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Policy ArchivesGo To Them: New Energy Jobs and the Populism We Need
It's not just about framing--"new energy jobs" are the best and only shot at bringing down the political impasse between America and the energy policy it needs.
By Keith Brower Brown, Breakthrough Generation The effort to pass a sensible climate and energy policy is not working. I don't just mean we're not getting the right content in legislation--whether it's trading or taxing or new investment. I want to face facts: right now there isn't serious political support, or even interest, for an "energy bill" with climate change solutions at its heart. Not from most Democrats in Congress, and not from the vast majority of Americans, whose support is desperately needed by us climate and clean energy advocates. This can be our crucial moment--a point of deep popular unrest over energy hikes and economic decline. In the self-righteous furor of "drill here, now" and in the sparring over loafers and houses, we see a political establishment desperate to connect with a distrustful electorate. At this sudden crossroads, both we and the defenders of the fossil economy have an incredible opportunity to define the way ahead. So now, we can't spend one more day still trying to convince 41% of America to come to our 10% side. We have to go to them, and meet them where they're at. Continue reading "Go To Them: New Energy Jobs and the Populism We Need" » A Pivotal Moment
With Americans focused on energy prices as never before, a game-changing shift is occurring in the American political climate. The time has come for climate and clean energy advocates to adopt a new strategy and policy agenda. Next year will see the inauguration of a new president, a new Congress, and a new international agreement on global warming. The moment is far too urgent to fall on our swords for a cap-and-trade agenda developed in an entirely different political environment.
There's one thing at the top of Americans' minds these days: energy prices. Prices at the pump have been hitting Americans hard for months now, and an overwhelming majority (87%) do not foresee things getting any better before the end of the year. As of June, concern for energy prices eclipsed the Iraq War as #2 on the Gallup monthly poll
of top American concerns (just behind concerns over the ailing
economy). And as Republicans and Democrats enter their conventions still sparring over oil drilling, energy is now the #1 election issue.
All of this paints a very clear picture of where Americans are at: they are focused on their pocketbooks, grimacing every time they head to the gas station to fill 'er up. This new focus on energy prices is a game changer for the world of energy and climate policy. Drilling on America's Land, Drilling on America's Terms
All the polling points demonstrates the fact that Americans are ready to start drilling, seeing it as a tangible way to help bring down prices at the pump. Whether or not this notion is true, Republicans continue to score political points hammering the Democrats for standing in the way of a solution that voting citizens support. And, if Democrats want to not only help Americans, but come out as the political winners, it is imperative that Democrats accept drilling, but accept it on their terms, not on Republican terms.
by Jesse Jenkins and Adam Solomon Zemel, Breakthrough Generation Democratic candidates from Obama on down have said they would be willing to compromise on offshore drilling--if presented with the right compromise. Many see this as a harbinger of energy-related political retreats to come ("if he's ready to open up the OCS, who's to say that Obama won't withdraw support for a cap-and-trade policy when he gets in office"). However, far from simple political posturing, a real compromise on off-shore drilling could pave the way to clean, affordable energy sources for the future, provide long term relief for consumers (i.e. American citizens), and make promises that politicians and the government can actually keep. All the polling points demonstrates the fact that Americans are ready to start drilling, seeing it as a tangible way to help bring down prices at the pump. Whether or not this notion is true, Republicans continue to score political points hammering the Democrats for standing in the way of a solution that voting citizens support. And, if Democrats want to not only help Americans, but come out as the political winners, it is imperative that Democrats accept drilling, but accept it on their terms, not on Republican terms. Continue reading "Drilling on America's Land, Drilling on America's Terms" » Democrats Are Losing the Battle of the Century
Democrats are getting trounced on the biggest election issue and quickly losing the most important political battle of the new century: energy. So why are they losing and what will it take to win the energy battle?
No, it's not the 2008 election. It's the fight over the future of American energy policy. And Democrats are getting trounced by a disciplined Republican offensive on oil drilling. According to a statewide survey released on July 30th, a slim majority of Californians now supports expanded oil drilling off our state's treasured coastline. Support for offshore drilling is even up six percent among the state's Democrats. In a land where offshore drilling has been a third-rail of politics for decades, this new surge in support for drilling is as sure a sign that Democrats are quickly losing ground to the vigorous GOP offensive to Drill! Drill! Drill! for more oil. Continue reading "Democrats Are Losing the Battle of the Century" » Why the "prices won't come down for a long time" argument doesn't work
Breakthrough Institute President Michael Shellenberger points to why the environmental argument against drilling -- "that prices won't come down for a long time" -- doesn't work.
By Michael Shellenberger, co-founder and president of the Breakthrough Institute. I have been confused as to why Americans still support oil drilling even after we progressives and greens have repeatedly explained to the American people (as I did on Hannity and Fox) that gas prices won't come down for many years -- perhaps as many as 10 years -- and even then by only a few cents. In a phrase: supply and demand. It's a powerful mental short-cut. If gas prices are too high, we need more oil. Who cares if it doesn't give us relief right now? And who cares if it doesn't lower gas prices by much? Given the way poll numbers are changing, Americans have decided they'd rather have a little price relief than continued environmental protection. Continue reading "Why the "prices won't come down for a long time" argument doesn't work" » You Have to Protect Your Core
The National Center for Atmospheric Research will shut down its program focused on strengthening poor countries' ability to deal with droughts, floods and other climate-related hazards. Breakthrough Fellow Roger Pielke, Jr. reflects on the damaging politics that often take place among disciplines in academia and the dangerous truth that the consequences of ceasing this program extend far beyond the academic walls.
By Breakthrough Senior Fellow Roger Pielke, Jr. Roger is a professor of Environmental Studies at U.C. Denver, serves as a Fellow at CIRES, and worked with the National Center for Atmospheric Research from 1993-2001. Roger has done pioneering work on proper role of scientists and experts in society. He is a guest contributer to the Breakthrough blog and also maintains his own science policy blog, Prometheus. In 2003 Dan Sarewitz and I wrote an article titled "Wanted: Scientific Leadership on Climate" (PDF). In that article we made the following brash assertion: What happens when the scientific community's responsibility to society conflicts with its professional self interest? In the case of research related to climate change the answer is clear: Self interest trumps responsibility. Our argument was that the scientific community sought to take care of its own interests first while "the needs and capabilities of decisionmakers who must deal with climate change have played little part in guiding research priorities." If you need any evidence that little has changed in the five years since we wrote that article, have a look at this story by Andy Revkin in today's New York Times. The article discusses the termination of the Center for Capacity Building at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the nation's largest government-supported atmospheric (and related) sciences research lab. "Like, Totally Ready to Lead"
Dark horse presidential candidate Paris Hilton reveals her energy plan for America as she makes a move for the White House this November. Breakthrough Generation Fellow Adam Zemel examines whether the "Hilton Solution" has what it takes to provide lasting solutions to our mounting energy crisis.
By Adam Solomon Zemel, Breakthrough Generation Dark horse third party presidential candidate Paris Hilton released an online campaign ad taking on allegations about her connections to other 2008 candidates, and formally announcing her energy policy. Hilton's announcement is an effort to put an end to speculation about how she would lead our country to energy independence. Like many others, I'm not surprised to see Hilton proposing a plan that will garner support for both sides of the political spectrum (and one can only assume it is part of a larger strategy to carry the votes of centrists from both parties): "We can do limited offshore drilling--with strict environmental oversight--while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars. That way the offshore drilling carries us until the new technologies kick in which will then create new jobs and energy independence. Energy crisis solved!" Why California's Energy Mandate Failure Matters
Greg Nemet, Breakthrough colleague and University of Wisconsin energy expert, sheds some light on what missing its aggressive renewables targets will mean for California, and the signal failure will send to policy makers, investors, and consumers across the country.
By Greg Nemet, Breakthrough colleague and University of Wisconsin energy expert. As has become increasingly clear over the past couple of years, California appears unlikely to meet its Renewables Portfolio Standard targets for 2010. See this report in the Chronicle and the California Public Utility Commissions quarterly RPS report to the legislature. Missing the renewables obligation is important -- not just because of the non-renewable electricity we will be using as a result -- but because of the signal it will send to policy makers, investors, and consumers on California and elsewhere. How the state manages missing the targets could have big impact on future policies and the incentives they create for businesses and consumers to change the way we use and produce energy. Continue reading "Why California's Energy Mandate Failure Matters" » Is California's Renewable Energy Mandate Destined for Failure?
Last week's news that California's utilities will not meet the state's law requiring that 20 percent of all electricity be produced from solar, wind and other renewable sources is further evidence that regulation alone - particularly unfunded mandates - will not carry us into a clean energy future.
By Alisha Fowler, Breakthrough Generation Last week's news that California's utilities will not meet the state's law requiring that 20 percent of all electricity be produced from solar, wind and other renewable sources is further evidence that regulation alone - particularly unfunded mandates - will not carry us into a clean energy future.
Continue reading "Is California's Renewable Energy Mandate Destined for Failure?" » Are We Losing the Race?
While the U.S. drags its feet, our competitors abroad are poised to wrest the upper hand in the new energy economy.
Written by Breakthrough Generation fellow Zach Arnold We're all used to the sense of ecological urgency that accompanies the climate debate. Green activists work with the knowledge that the time for action is limited, as rising emissions push the global climate toward irreversible changes. But there's another ticking clock out there, one that may be about to run out: while the U.S. drags its feet, our competitors abroad are poised to wrest the upper hand in the new energy economy. And as usual, no competitor looms larger than China. Last week, I blogged about China's wind economy, which is currently expanding at a pace somewhere between mind-boggling and out of control. Yesterday, the Climate Group released some highlights from their upcoming report on China's renewable economy. To wit:
Impressive figures, although of course, they pale in comparison to China's far larger fossil fuel numbers. 820 MW of solar power? China adds that much capacity in coal literally every few days. Nonetheless, what we're seeing now in China are the vital first stirrings of a new sort of energy. Renewable sources are finally coming into their own as substantial additions to the grid, and massive development is only going to speed the advent of clean tech, as turbines and PV panels become cheaper and faster to produce with every new factory that goes online. I discussed several of the factors behind China's wind rush in my post last week, and most of them apply to clean tech efforts in general (although efficiency regulations, as I discussed, are an entirely different story). With China's strong, pro-renewable government incentives and breakneck pace of development, it's entirely plausible that China will become the world leader in renewables development sooner rather than later, gaining the upper hand in a lucrative and quickly growing global industry - especially considering that China's only potential major opponent is busy bickering over offshore drilling... A Smart Investment In Energy Education
The Breakthrough Institute has recently released on what a comprehensive new national energy education policy might look like. We thought we'd provide a little background on how just powerful an investment in education can be.
By Genevieve Bennett, Breakthrough Generation Fellow See our policy fact sheet "Ignorance," Thaddeus Stevens once noted, "is more costly than taxes." Wise words - and indicative of a kind of long-term thinking in which we only seem to engage in fits and starts here in the U.S. Consider that federal financing of loans for higher education and workforce training is a relatively new development. 2008 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the National Defense Education Act, a bill that authorized $6.7 billion (2008 dollars) to improve access to and quality of education in strategic defense-related fields: science, math, engineering, technology, foreign languages, and area studies. New Energy Education Proposal Featured in Two Newspapers
Breakthrough Institute's new National Energy Education Act proposal has drawn attention from coast to coast, securing two op-eds published in The San Francisco Chronicle and Baltimore Sun. Both pieces focus on how America can lead the way in forging a global clean energy economy by investing in education.
coverage by Adam Solomon Zemel, Breakthrough Generation Jesse Jenkins and Teryn Norris, co-directors of the Breakthrough Generation program at the Breakthrough Institute, published two op-eds this week in two newspapers on opposite sides of the country -- the Baltimore Sun and the San Francisco Chronicle. Both pieces focus on how America can lead the way in forging a global clean energy economy by investing in education. Continue reading "New Energy Education Proposal Featured in Two Newspapers" » Frustration Drives Innovation (But We Should Help it Along Too)
In the absence of clean, cheap renewables, ever-rising oil prices are prodding innovation into effect. Here are some examples of recent interesting, astonishing, and innovative ideas that have arisen largely due to higher energy costs.
By Helen Aki, Breakthrough Generation Fellow Here at the Breakthrough Institute, we have held that making clean energy cheaper, rather than "dirty" (i.e. carbon intensive) energy more expensive, is the most effective way to spur the innovation we need to transition our energy dependence to new sources. In the absence of cheaper renewables, however, ever-rising oil prices are already prodding innovation into effect. Let's acknowledge the uncreative response to higher energy prices and voter turmoil at the outset: yes, drilling for more oil in Alaska is neither innovative nor interesting, nor a way to lower America's oil bill. But more has arisen out of $147/barrel oil (the most recent high; as of today it has dropped back down to $123/barrel) than the routine of panic. Thomas Friedman wrote today that, The only good thing to come from soaring oil prices is that they have spurred innovator/investors, successful in other fields, to move into clean energy with a mad-as-hell, can-do ambition to replace oil with renewable power. Here are some examples of recent interesting, astonishing, and innovative ideas that have arisen largely due to higher energy costs. Continue reading "Frustration Drives Innovation (But We Should Help it Along Too)" » From Microchips to Clean Tech: The Military's Role in a Renewable Energy Future
Renewable energy is a clear strategic asset for the military, and military demand could help drive the cost reductions that clean tech needs in order to become a core energy solution.
Written by Breakthrough Generation fellow Zach Arnold Look behind many of the key technologies of the 20th and 21st centuries, and you'll see a long history of military involvement. The U.S. armed forces kick-started American dominance in civil aviation through their demand for planes during WWI, and later drove the growth of the computer industry by buying every microchip and supercomputer in sight during the 60's. Military scientists and military-funded researchers developed the ideas behind the Internet, nuclear power, and personal computing. Indeed, the U.S. military has arguably been the greatest force for technological growth in modern times. And now, it's time for renewable energy to get the Army treatment. Let's look back to the 1960s. Jack Kilby, a scientist at Texas Instruments, had pioneered an innovative circuit design a few years earlier by packing several transistors onto a single conductive "chip," creating a "microchip" that stood to be more reliable, better suited to mass production, and far faster than existing circuitry. It was the military - not the consumer market - that quickly realized the strategic value of Kilby's achievement. Throughout the early 1960's, military agencies bought virtually every microchip manufacturers could produce. These purchases enabled big advances in military technology, facilitating projects like Minuteman and Apollo and cementing America's position as a military power. And a funny thing happened along the way. Continue reading "From Microchips to Clean Tech: The Military's Role in a Renewable Energy Future" » Act Now: Last Chance for Congress to Pass Critical Renewable Energy Incentives
It's our last chance to tell Congress to extend the critical renewable energy incentives. After all, if we're spending so much time arguing about how to expand supplies of that old, dirty oil stuff, shouldn't America's vast and untapped reserves of clean, cheap domestic renewable energy be something we can all agree to develop?
It looks like Congress has one last shot to overcome partisan demagoguery and pass a bill that funds extensions of the soon-to-expire federal renewable energy incentives. The Senate is set to vote as early as tomorrow on S. 3335, a bill that extends the critical Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit for clean, American renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal energy. This is our last chance to tell Congress we want more, clean, cheap American energy and it's time to extend the critical renewable energy incentives that make it possible. Continue reading "Act Now: Last Chance for Congress to Pass Critical Renewable Energy Incentives" » Al Gore, 8 Days Later...
With the standing ovation long over and the media for now satiated, it seems appropriate to take a look at how Gore's speech was received. In the applause and critique, I find the kernels of that elusive narrative that will somehow galvanize the nation into bold action on energy.
By Lindsey Franklin, Breakthrough Generation Fellow Over a week has passed since Al Gore made his bold call for 100% renewable energy in the next 10 years, initiating a wave of response. Conservatives called him crazy--ridiculous, even. Enviros applauded his vision and bold determination. Some Democrats cringed at his timing, afraid of the response of gas-sensitive voters. Some media barely covered him. With the standing ovation long over and the media for now satiated, it seems appropriate to take a look at how Gore's speech was received and what its initial reception means for the story we must tell about the energy challenge. In the applause and critique, I find the kernels of that elusive narrative that will somehow galvanize the nation into bold action on energy. What Does China's Wind Boom Tell Us?
There’s really only one option - bring more price-competitive clean technologies into the global marketplace (surprise!), and put policies in place to facilitate their diffusion into China and elsewhere.
Written by Breakthrough Generation fellow Zach Arnold Over at the Environment and Energy blog, Bradford Plumer points the way to a great Guardian article on the Chinese wind boom. Wind installation there has been surpassing projections for some time, blowing through 6 GW earlier this year, and by year’s end China should lead the world in capacity. By 2010, one wind farm will add 3.8 GW - i.e., one third of total current US capacity - in its first phase of expansion. In other words, T. Boone Pickens has nothing on Chinese entrepreneurs (does anyone?). Europe's Green New Deal
Forget about ten years to save the planet, we've got 100 months. At least that's what the Green New Deal Group, based in Europe, is telling us. Set the fear-mongering aside, and their plans are worth examining.
By Alisha Fowler, Breakthrough Generation Fellow Forget about ten years to save the planet, we've got 100 months. At least that's what the Green New Deal Group, based in Europe, is telling us. The Green New Deal Group plans to tackle the "triple threat" of the credit crunch, high gas prices, and climate change in an effort to prevent degradation of life and "the world as we know it." Despite their fear-based messaging and impossibly short timeline, the Group's proposals sound pretty good. In fact, they sound a bit like what we've been talking about to build a bright future for America. Breakthrough Responds: Why Carbon Pricing Won't Cut It
In the real world, the American polity and the American market are not ready for a tough carbon price. The best way to respond to the climate challenge right now is to massively expand the role of the federal government in researching, developing, and deploying clean technology.
This is a response to Max Epstein's guest post, "In Defense of Carbon Pricing: Why Clean Energy RD&D Isn't Enough." Our response is written by Breakthrough Generation fellow Zach Arnold. Before anything else, I want to thank Max for his thoughtful post. His arguments have been a big help in clarifying our own thinking. In my response, I'm going to try to define the problem we're trying to solve, and clarify the differences I see between a carbon price driven regime (as Max advocates) and an investment-led regime (as we're more fond of at Breakthrough). I'm then going to explore the political feasibility of a carbon price, and what a politically sustainable carbon price can and can't do to address climate change. In doing so, I hope to show that, for now, we can't rely on carbon pricing to drive the shift to a clean energy economy. Continue reading "Breakthrough Responds: Why Carbon Pricing Won't Cut It" » While We're Out There...or: A Call For Pragmatic Political Solutions
Deep sea wind farms might not have an immediate effect on gas prices, but drilling for oil out there won't either. And, considering the fact that both off shore drilling and deep sea wind have about the same 10-year frame for return on investment of resources, it only seems prudent to explore every "American Solution" we have at our disposal.
By Adam Zemel, Breakthrough Generation Fellow Deep sea wind turbines have a lot to offer: This (older) article from MIT discusses building wind farms 100 miles off shore, which shows another strength for deep sea wind: 100 miles away from the shore, farther than the human eye can see, is not anyone's backyard. There is no threat from NIMBY activists, or NIMFrontY activists, or NIMYPeriod activists. A patch of water 100 miles away from land is not in anyone's yard at all! Continue reading "While We're Out There...or: A Call For Pragmatic Political Solutions" » Guest Post: In Defense of Carbon Pricing: Why Clean RD&D Isn't Enough
If we don't price the externality cost of carbon, we won't need breakthroughs, we'll need miracles.
We've asked our friend, UMD student, and occasional Washington Post editorialist Max Epstein to contribute his thoughts on carbon pricing to the blog. Our response, by Breakthrough Generation Fellow Zach Arnold, is here. In the wake of the failed Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, there has been a widespread reevaluation of whether Cap & Trade is the most effective strategy to avert catastrophic climate change. At first many promoted a carbon tax instead, but recently there has been a call to reconsider the central focus on pricing carbon itself. Following Lieberman-Warner's abrupt death in the Senate, Michael Shellenberger wrote that the new way forward should focus on making renewable energy cheap, not polluting sources expensive. In "Scrap Kyoto," Shellenberger and Nordhaus call for a massive public investment in clean technology research and deployment. Joseph Romm in Nature calls for massive subsidized deployment of existing renewable technology, relegating R&D to the "longer-term effort aimed at a new generation of technologies for the emissions reduction effort after 2040." However, such efforts would be insufficient without a price on carbon as well. Continue reading "Guest Post: In Defense of Carbon Pricing: Why Clean RD&D Isn't Enough" » Slow, Dirty, and Expensive: Retying the Gordian Knot
From the Department of Obscure But Telling Anectdotes, Breakthrough Generation Fellow Adam Rodriques presents you with the cases of the Zheleznogorsk and Seversk. These represent a case study of why we need to approach any sort of large-scale problem holistically: as we have seen repeatedly, if we act myopically, we rarely (if ever) end up making things any better in the long run.
By Adam Rodriques, Breakthrough Generation Fellow From the Department of Obscure But Telling Anecdotes, I present you with the cases of the Zheleznogorsk and Seversk reactors. These represent a case study of why we need to approach any sort of large-scale problem holistically: as we have seen repeatedly, if we act myopically, we rarely (if ever) end up making things any better in the long run. Continue reading "Slow, Dirty, and Expensive: Retying the Gordian Knot" » It Is Time.
Last Saturday marked the first day that the U.S. spent $1 million per minute on oil. At the same time, the dollar is trading at a record low vis-a-vis the euro. Now, more than ever, it is time for a new American energy.
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