Energy policy in the U.S. : politics, challenges, and prospects for change

 Content: Introduction What Is Energy? Structure of the Energy Industry Stakeholders in the Energy Policy Network What Actions Should We Take? Purpose for the Book Why an Energy Policy Is Important  THE CHALLENGES IN CRAFTING U.S. ENERGY POLICY   The Political Realities of Energy Policy Demystifying Energy Policy An Example: Coal, from Mine to Furnace Understanding the Scale of Energy The Function of Energy Policy Why Does the United States Use so Much Energy? The U.S. Energy Sector Energy in Commerce and Industry Energy and the Consumer Energy and Agriculture Conclusion: Energy out of Balance  Energy Policy in Transition Early Climate Research Forecasts, Energy, and Creating the Future Confusion over Peak Oil Transitioning from Peak Production Climate Change: Challenges and Policy Goals The Challenge; the Response Thinking in Wedges The Stern Review and Its Aftermath The Social Cost of Carbon The Carbon Price Debate Arcane Issues with Global Ramifications Conclusion: Climate Implications for Energy Policy  The Art and Science of Crafting Public Policy Policy Making in Action The Evolution of U.S. Political Culture Congress and Its Influence on Policy Pluralism, Elites, Triangles, and Networks Shifting Models of Government Power The System: Weakened, but Still Functioning-for Now Framing the Energy Policy Issue Needed: A New Way of Thinking about Policy The U.S. Policy Space: Today and the Near Tomorrow Conclusion: A Rough Terrain Ahead  The Long Search for a Sustainable Energy Policy The History of U.S. Energy Policy since 1945 1945 to 1970: Managing an Energy Surplus 1971 to 1980: Coping with Energy Shortages 1981 to 1990: Deregulating the Industry 1991 to 1999: Calls for a Comprehensive Energy Policy 2000 to 2002: Linking Energy and National Security 2003 to 2007: A Comprehensive Energy Policy Finally Emerges 2008 to 2009: A Renewed Call for Energy Independence 2010 and Beyond: Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and the Environment  Difficulties in Achieving a Balanced Energy Policy Why Intervene in Energy? Multiple Stakeholders Stakeholders in Forming Energy Policy The Energy Scope Challenge Widely Different Perspectives Ambiguous and Conflicting Policy Goals The Nature of Energy Policy Interventions Complex and Unwieldy Interventions Need to Rethink Energy Subsidies Can We Afford All Planned Energy Programs? The Innovators: States, Regions, Compacts Environmental Policy, Energy Policy, and Politics II Conclusion: A Complex, Interrelated Energy Policy Result  What's on the Current Energy Policy Agenda? Climate Change and the U.S. Economy The Future Role of Nuclear Energy Concern about Our Reliance on Imported Oil Issues to Address Immediately Renewables and Conservation Policy Issues Tackling the Major Agenda Issues Access to Federal Lands Is Carbon Capture and Storage Viable? Failure to Produce a Global Climate Treaty What's on the Periphery of the Energy Agenda? Conclusion: Sorting out the Energy Agenda  POLICIES FORENERGY TRANSITION   Crafting Policy with Subsidies and Regulations The Nature of Government Interventions The Importance of Subsidies Tax Expenditure Interventions Problems Financing Renewable Energy Projects Energy Research and Development A Major Presidential Theme The DOE's Spotty Record of Success Federal Regulation of the Energy Sector Appliance Efficiency Standards and Energy Star Energy Interventions for Households: LIHEAP Conclusion: The U.S. Energy Policy Blunderbuss   Policies Shaped by Taxes and Market Mechanisms Federal Energy Fees and Taxes The Carbon Challenge Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade Renewable Portfolio Standards Feed-in Tariffs Conclusion: Role of Interventions in Energy Policy  International Cooperation on Energy Policy Global Energy: Sources, Consumption, Inequities States, Realists, and Idealists Regimes and Global Environmental and Energy Governance Global Energy Regimes and Regional Energy Institutions International Influences on U.S. Energy Policy Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Working Group North American Energy Working Group International Energy Forum Other International Energy Organizations Global Cooperation on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Cooperating on Cap and Trade Agreements Reducing Carbon Emissions: REDD and Carbon Sinks Evaluating Carbon Offset Programs The Verdict on Kyoto The Copenhagen Accord Challenges to Global Action on Climate Conclusion: Influences of Global Cooperation on U.S. Energy Policy  Policies for a New Energy Future The Energy Options Portfolio Carbon Taxes on Fossil Fuels The Challenges Facing Policy Makers Making the Tough Choices Greenhouse Gas Leakage Problem What Are Sensible Policy Criteria? Conclusion: The Recurring Issue of Local Control  Aftermath of the Gulf Oil Spill: Prospects for Policy Changes Policy Failure and the Gulf Oil Spill Problems Regulating the Energy Industry Citizen Reaction Conclusion: Get Started, Get Involved, Be Heard  Appendix A: Chapter Discussion and Review Questions Appendix B: Timeline of Energy Policy Developments, 1950-2010 Appendix C: Energy-Related Acronyms Appendix D: Glossary References Index