History Section 1: Historical Arc of Energy Policy and Development

Primary energy: energy extracted from natural sources, not converted into usable energy yetEx: wind, coal, oilSecondary energy: energy from transformation of primary energyEx: electricityBoth used to measure energy consumptionQuad of energy: 1015 btu, used for reference

Question

Name one example of a primary source and one example of a secondary source

Edison’s light bulb

• Created incandescent light bulb• Alternative to common kerosene lighting• Affordable, long-lasting, does not catch on fire• Provided need for electricity on a wide scale

Direct vs Alternating current

• By late 1880’s, most power plants used direct current• Direct current inefficient, only transmit about a mile until

power lost as heat• Alternating current introduced by George

Westinghouse( inspired by Nicolas Tesla)• Began a “war of the currents”• Edison began publicity campaign against alternating current• Alternating current just too good, so today, alternate current

used• However, researchers still looking at diff uses of direct current

today

Question

Who supported the alternating current? The direct current?

Access to electricity today

• International Energy Agency(IEA) defines energy poverty as lack of access to modern energy services

• 1.5 billion people lack any access to any electricity

• 95 percent of these people live in Asia or sub-Saharan Africa( refer to fig 2 page 8)

Oil!

• Cooked, pressurized remains of organic matter over millions of years

• Used so much by everyone• Major role in geopolitical power: 1990 Kuwait

invasion, Gulf War, many Middle Eastern conflicts• Everyone (especially US) dependent on oil for

everything• Hard to find alternatives for it, but not impossible

History of Oil

First oil well drilled in 1859 in Pennsylvania by George BissellStarted an oil boom overnight John Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, becomes one of richest men in historyDemand for oil grew with Ford carsHowever, oil resources finiteAmount of oil drilled peaks in 1970, the declines irreversably( see fig 3, p10)

OPEC and 1973 Oil Crisis

• OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries• Rivaled the Seven sisters: private oil companies• October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria start 1973 Arab-Israeli War• US backs Israel against Egypt and Syria• In response, OPEC declares Embargo on oil against US• Results of Embargo: – Creation of IEA 1974– US began building Strategic Petroleum Reserve to protect

from future supply disruption– Begins awareness of our increasing dependency on foreign

oil

Question

What was the cause of the 1973 Oil Embargo and Crisis?

Question

Name one consequence of the 1973 Oil Crisis

1979 Oil Crisis

• Iran was 2nd biggest producer of oil in world in 1979

• Disrupted by Iranian revolution• Less supply, higher pricesConsequences: - President Carter only 1 term- Resignation of 5 members of cabinet- More gas lines

Energy Policy

• Policy: principles that guide decisions and provide a pathway toward achieving desired outcomes

• Many policy efforts in energy since Industrial Revolution, but approach changed with 1970’s oil crises

Energy Policies prior to 1970’s

• 4 energy developments between WWII and 70’s: – Coal repurposed for electricity– Natural gas industry destabilized– Oil industry shifted from nearly unlimited to shortage– Nuclear energy came online nationwideNatural Gas Act 1938- Empowered Federal Power commission to regulate rates

for pipelines- Had to keep gas prices at the wellhead- Has to set price controls and set prices

Energy policy under Nixon

• 1969-74• When first entered office, implemented price

controls against inflation• Had to adjust with 1973 oil crisis• Announced Project Independence– Supposed to wean US off of foreign energy

sources by end of 70’s– Couldn’t see it through b/c of Watergate scandal

and resignation

Question

What was the intent of Project Independence?

Energy Policy under Ford

• Continued Project Independence, but stepped down from totally efficiency to “reasonable self-sufficiency”

• First president to emphasize relationship between energy, economy, and national security

• Energy Policy and Conservation Act 1975– Codified Ford’s Strategic Petroleum reserve– Increase energy production and supply and reduce

demand– Extend price controls on oil– First time that US energy policy encourage conservation

and renewable energy

Question

Name one thing the EPCA act did

Energy Policy under Carter

• Created department of energy• Gave a Speech about energy crisis vs War– Led to passing of National Energy Act 1978National Energy Act- Addressed larger role for coal- Return to conservation principles- Create electricity market- Decontrol of oil prices

Energy Policy under Carter Part 2• 5 major legislative efforts under NEA

– National Energy Conservation Policy Act(NECPA)– Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act– Natural Gas Policy Act– Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)– Energy Tax act of 1978NECP: direct departm. of energy to set “minimum energy performance standards” for buildings, vehicles, equipmentPURPA: created markets for power produced by small power plants and exempt them from most regulation, gave power to non-utility power producers, and created conditions for competitive markets in the electric industry

Question

Name one thing Carter did during his legislation in regard to energy

Energy Policy under Reagan

• Totally different approach from Carter• Decontrol fuel prices, increase access to

domestic oil supplies• Promote alternative energies, esp.

nuclear• Policies unsuccessful in attempt to

deregulate energy industry

EPAct of 1992• Similar to earlier acts: lessen dependence on imported oil,

encourage renewable energy• But deregulated electric power

– Before, companies that owned or controlled 10%+ of a public utility had to listen to PUHCA and simplify their ooperations to a single state

– Crated new category of power generators who could generate and sell electricity at wholesale w/o being regulated by PUHCA

Results: - non-regulated energy producers could enter wholesale market

and sell power at market prices- End of monopolies for electricity generation

Energy Policy Act of 2005

• Under George W. Bush• Calls for increase in amount of biofuels mixed with

gas• Subsidies for wind and alternative energy producers• Authorizes 50 mil for biomass research and

development• Repealed PUHCA entirely• Amended PURPA by repealing that utilities in

competitive markets buy Qualifying Facility power

Question

What previous policy did the Energy Policy Act of 2005 repeal?

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

• Increased CAFE( Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards for passenger vehicles

• 35 mpg minimum( varied)• Forced taxpayers to fund +production of

biofuels and incl. new standards to promote energy efficiency in residential and commercial appliance equipment

Question

Describe CAFE in your own terms

Energy Policy Today

• No consistent or well-defined goals• Some say not big problem, has already lasted

decades w/o real policy• But energy resources finite• Need to watch out for global warming and

geopolitical security