The U.S. Federal Government Should Do More to Support Renewable Energy

In 2009 the The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) was attempted to pass through Congress. This bill would have allowed more stricter regulation on carbon emissions, subsidized clean energy and a renewable energy standard. While this bill was not passed, the government needs to begin focusing on these ideas mentioned in the bill in order to create favorable conditions that would support change in the energy system.

In order to create a more sustainable energy system that does not focus on fossil fuels, central governments as well as local government and individuals need to begin working towards making renewable energy tangible and accessible.

In order to do this, central governments need to take a strong stance in support renewable energy, subsidize clean energy, tax carbon emissions, and investing in clean energy. With these conditions as well as local support, this can create favorable conditions for change in the world energy system.

The government plays a major role when it comes to making changes and giving central guidance for change.

They have the power to support, and even enforce if need be, taxes, regulations, risks, access, stockpiling and research and development into what they seem fit for the country. A negative outcome of this persuasion, one in which Lovins recognizes and discusses, is that they may not support the most ethical choices “The current U.S. energy policy harms the economy and the climate by rejecting free-market principles and playing favorites with technologies.

The best course is to allow every method of producing or saving energy to compete fairly, at honest prices, regardless of which kind of investment it is, what technology it uses, how big it is or who owns it”.

Get quality help now

Marrie pro writer

Verified

Proficient in: Economics

5 (204)

“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

  Although the current policy has a negative effect on both the economy and the climate, the federal government has the power to play a positive role in other areas of sustainability. They can work with worldwide and nationwide businesses and companies to creating favorable conditions through new technologies for wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower.

The federal government could generate favorable conditions for these sources of renewable energy by implementing subsidies with them. Currently, “Wind power’s subsidy is a temporary one that Congress has repeatedly allowed to expire; in contrast, the subsidies for the fossil-fuel and nuclear industries are larger and permanent.” (Lovins, pp 81) Not only does the federal government have a big influence on change, but the state and local government as well. If the federal government does not take the initiative to creates favorable conditions for change to the world energy system, the state and local governments have the choice to guide and plan their own means.

The government will also need to create favorable changes in appealing to corporations, private residents, and businesses to want to convert to clean energy. A main tactic that the government can use to help aid in these changes is subsidizing for clean energy. Currently, fossil fuels “supply more than three-quarters of the world’s commercial energy use, and energy companies are among the largest in the world. Most of the essential energy services we rely on-heat, light, mobility, power-are derived from fossil fuels.”(Cleveland). An easy way to address a switch away from fossil fuels is to subsidize clean energy. This would include the government stepping away from the support of harmful energy use on the environment, and favoritism toward renewable energy.

For example, when universities are divesting from fossil fuels, they should receive help from the government to aid in the process of abandoning fossil fuels. Cleveland points out “But subsides must be monitored to insure that they serve the public interest and not merely a private one. Subsidies to oil, coal, and natural gas do not support innovative technologies or less-polluting energy: they nakedly support the production of more oil, coal, and natural gas.” By creating a way that renewable energy can be favored through government subsidies, the world energy system will begin to switch to a way they can get energy for an affordable price. If they also do not subsidize fossil fuels, the price of fossil fuels will increase and decrease profit on fossil fuels.

The International Monetary Fund argues that reforming subsidies away from fossil fuels will support economic growth and lessen environmental degradation. (Cleveland) Moreover, if the government begins to place reductions in subsidies for fossil fuels, local governments will also thrive in reshaping energy systems. Aside from it being mandated by the government, it will appeal to local businesses and residents because it will provide a way to get renewable energy at a cheaper price than normal.

Lovins points out that most energy consumers “do not recognize how much they can benefit from improving efficiency, because saved energy comes in millions of invisibly small pieces, not in obvious big chunks.” If on a local level energy users begin to understand the benefits on the economy and on the environment, they will be more inclined to switch over to renewable energy.

Local influences play a substantial role for change in the world’s energy system as past, well. Local governments, Universities and nonprofit organizations work directly with local population to educate and sway the thoughts and choices towards sustainable changes. Local powerhouses such as universities have already begun to understand the importance of divesting from fossil fuels and setting a precedent for other universities and for their students.

Local agency can also place pressure on the government to enforce these changes. In the grassroots movements have created change in environmental and political issues, and local governments and individuals have the power to persuade the central government. Although at times this may be difficult, individuals as well as local governments can create large movements to persuade the government. Local government can encourage individuals to invest not in major corporations but on a local level. This can place pressure on central governments to create change.

A major aspect to this issue of fossil fueled supported energy system is the large amounts of vehicles and industries that produce carbon emissions. If we were to be able to give these companies or areas a financial incentive to becoming more green, then it would seem like an easier decision for some people to go greener. Green energy would be an investment of time and patients by people and communities, as it would not be a quick, fast, and easy. Government would have to play a major role in this transformation of resources.

The entire world would be going from using the same fuel source for over 100 years, to something new within the last 20 years. It would have to be a large investment by government stand points and everyone would have to get on board in order to make a big difference. “The world economy is already decarbonizing: over the past two centuries, carbon-rich fuels such as coal have given way to fuels with less carbon or with none” (Lovins, pg. 3). One solution that has been in a few texts that we have read would be a carbon tax on pollution and carbon emissions. Big companies are a major issue in the combat with emissions today. They are able to override certain policies about carbon emission and be emitted from certain taxes. If they were taxed for carbon emissions and held responsible for their actions, then they would have more of an incentive not to pollute.

“The U.S. now uses 47 percent less energy per dollar of economic output than it did 30 years ago, lowering costs by $1 billion a day. These savings act like a huge universal tax cut that also reduces the federal deficit” (Lovins 2). By using less fossil fuels, the economy will benefit as well as the consumer. Renewable energy will help make a more efficient energy system, as Lovins says “efficiency improvements that can save most of our electricity also cost less than what the utilities now pay for coal, which generates half of U.S. power and 38 percent of its fossil-fuel carbon emissions.” With a more efficient energy system on renewable energies and companies being held responsible for their actions on the environment, a shift in the energy system is possible.

Federal and local governments as well as individuals influence the creation of more sustainable energy system that do not focus on fossil fuels and work towards making substantial renewable energy. The government needs to take a stronger stance to support renewable energy, subsidize clean energy, tax carbon emissions and invest in clean energy.

With central guidance from the federal government, local governments and persuasive individuals, changes in the world energy systems can balance out to have additional favorable conditions.