Photo courtesy of andjohan
Policy makers and power producers agree that energy efficiency should be a national priority in addressing climate change. Aggressive and effective energy efficiency programs could significantly reduce electric power and natural gas use and associated GHG emissions, and would deliver other real benefits: cost savings, improved air quality, and greater energy security and independence. However, efforts to realize this potential face many obstacles.
CATF is developing policy proposals to strengthen federal energy efficiency policies, focusing mainly on the efficiency of new appliances and equipment. We are also surveying the past 20 years of energy efficiency policies to find lessons for the future.
CATF has carried out technical and policy studies of renewable energy and developed proposals in several areas. These efforts include:
- Sponsorship of an economic study of the applicability and costs of specific wind energy storage technology in the Midwest and Western electric grids.
- A proposal for federal support to advance a variety of innovative, low-carbon technologies through assured payment for CO2 avoidance.
- Collaboration with financial experts to outline a “First Project Fund” aimed at bridging the financial gap between pre-commercialization and first commercial-scale renewable and advanced low carbon technology projects.
- CATF’s Asia Clean Energy Innovation Initiative, takes CATF’s work regarding China/US cooperation on low carbon coal into such areas as solar, wind, energy efficiency, and smart grid.
