This document discusses climate change science, energy policy, energy efficiency, climate change research and development, and electricity production. It provides an overview of the greenhouse effect and what is known about climate change from settled science. It advocates for a prudent energy policy approach that focuses on energy efficiency and climate change R&D. The document proposes allocating 5% of carbon allowances to fund basic and applied climate change research. It also notes challenges for scaling up wind and solar power, including needing grid improvements and electricity storage solutions.
2. What We Will Cover Climate change science: a primer Energy policy: a prudent approach Energy efficiency: now and in the future Climate change R&D: a way forward Electricity production: an observation
9. Climate ChangeBut What We Also Do Know Well Dwell time of CO2 in the atmosphere: hundreds of years Compare ozone hole and dwell time of Freon
10. Climate ChangeBut What We Also Know Well Dwell time of CO2 in the atmosphere: hundreds of years Compare ozone hole and dwell time of Freon: decades
11. And Even with the Ozone Hole… Note: 1 Dobson Unit = 0.01 mm
13. Energy PolicyClimate Change & Energy Security Energy Efficiency Prudent policy It costs the economy nothing to deploy existing technologies But we must invest in research to develop future technologies
16. Energy PolicyClimate Change & Energy Security Climate change R&D White House roadmap: $15 billion/yr federal R&D investment needed to achieve 83% target reduction by 2050 Unfortunately existing climate bills virtually ignore research We will never reach the target!
17. Energy PolicyClimate Change & Energy Security Some ideas for funding climate change R&D Five percent of total carbon allowances issued annually should be dedicated to funding basic research and long-term applied research to help achieve the 83% carbon reduction goals. The Secretary of Energy should prepare a long-term research plan and provide annual updates to assure targets are met. To the maximum extent practicable, multiyear projects should be fully funded at their initiation with reviews of projects taking place annually.
18. Energy PolicyClimate Change & Energy Security Some ideas for funding climate change R&D Funds should be used for competitively awarded research in the following areas: New lower, or zero, carbon emission energy resources and technologies, including increased efficiency. Improved methods for capturing and sequestering greenhouse gases. Climate change research, including its modeling and monitoring. The economic, behavioral and social factors affecting consumer energy use.
19. One More Issue – Renewables in Brief Sources of electric power: load classification Coal: base load Nuclear: base load Hydro: base load Natural gas: “peaker” as currently used Wind: intermittent Solar: intermittent Fundamental requirements for wind and solar scale-up Grid Electricity storage
20. What We Covered Climate change science: a primer Energy policy: a prudent approach Energy efficiency: now and in the future Climate change R&D: a way forward Electricity production: an observation