Energy Markets Deregulation and Liberalization - Energy and Environmental Policies

The operation of electric power systems in the 1970s was a vertically integrated activity with a strongly monopolistic character and with a public acceptance energy supply service obligation in their location area. Their activities were under the scrutiny of a regulatory authority accountable, directly or indirectly, to the government. (more…)

The Future Role for Renewable Energy Foundations

Foundations have made good progress on the energy front, but huge gaps remain. Promising technologies in energy production and use today prove that the prospects for an affluent but low-carbon society are good. But the U.S. and the world economies continue to run primarily on oil and coal. As the largest consumer and producer of energy in the world, the United States has the responsibility to lead the transition to cleaner energy technologies. (more…)

The Role of Governments in Energy Research and Development

Not surprisingly, most Energy Research and Development takes place in industrialized countries where both the public and private sectors are involved in the development of energy technologies. Given that most energy technologies are deployed through the marketplace, the predominant focus of Energy Research and Development is within firms. Still, governments have historically played an important role in the Research and Development of new energy technologies through direct financial support (e.g., gas turbines) as well as through policies that promote Energy Research and Development within firms. (more…)

Public Acceptance Clusters of Energy Technologies

energy technologies public
Public acceptance (PA) clusters are defined by a number of rather intangible commonalties dealing with social values and public preferences. Societal values influencing the public acceptance of energy technologies include the following:

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The internalization of environmental external costs. In this respect, all energy technologies with high SO2 emission intensities form the acidification cluster; (more…)