NSB-09-55, Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Effective Energy Economy Transformation

Building a Sustainable

Energy Future:

U.S. Actions for an Effective

Energy Economy Transformation

National Science Board

August 3, 2009

NSB-09-55

Cover Design by James J. Caras, Design and Publishing Section,

Information Dissemination Branch, National Science Foundation

NSB-09-55

Building a Sustainable Energy Future:

U.S. Actions for an Eﬀective Energy

Economy Transformation

August 3, 2009

National Science Board Members

Steven C. Beering, Chairman, President Emeritus, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Patricia D. Galloway, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Pegasus Global Holdings, Inc., Cle Elum, Washington

Mark R. Abbott, Dean and Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University, Corvallis

Dan E. Arvizu, Director and Chief Executive, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, Colorado

Barry C. Barish,* Director, Global Design Eﬀort for International Linear Collider, Linde Professor of Physics,

Emeritus, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

Camilla P. Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development, Peabody College of

Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Ray M. Bowen, President Emeritus, Texas A&M University, College Station

John T. Bruer, President, e James S. McDonnell Foundation, Saint Louis, Missouri

G. Wayne Clough, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

France A. Córdova, President, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Kelvin K. Droegemeier, Associate Vice President for Research, Regents’ Professor of Meteorology and Weathernews

Chair, University of Oklahoma, Norman

José-Marie Griﬃths, Dean and Professor, School of Information and Library Science, Director of Biomedical

Informatics, TraCS Institute, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Esin Gulari, Dean of Engineering and Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

Elizabeth Hoﬀman,* Executive Vice President and Provost, Iowa State University, Ames

Louis J. Lanzerotti, Distinguished Research Professor of Physics, Center for Solar Terrestrial Research, Department

of Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark

Alan I. Leshner, Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Executive Publisher, Science, American Association for the Advancement

of Science, Washington, DC

G.P. “Bud” Peterson, President, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

Douglas D. Randall, Professor and omas Jeﬀerson Fellow, University of Missouri, Columbia

Arthur K. Reilly, Senior Director, Strategic Technology Policy, Cisco Systems, Inc., Ocean, New Jersey

Diane L. Souvaine, Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts

Jon C. Strauss, Interim Dean, Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Director, Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy, John Glenn School

of Public Aﬀairs, Ohio State University, Columbus

omas N. Taylor, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,

Curator of Paleobotany in the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, e University of

Kansas, Lawrence

Richard F. ompson, Keck Professor of Psychology and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California,

Los Angeles

Member ex oﬃcio:

Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia

*******

Craig R. Robinson, Acting Executive Oﬃcer, National Science Board and National Science Board Oﬃce Director,

Arlington, Virginia

Task Force on Sustainable Energy, Committee on Programs and Plans

Dan E. Arvizu, Co-Chairman John T. Bruer Arthur K. Reilly

Jon C. Strauss, Co-Chairman José-Marie Griﬃths Steven C. Beering, ex oﬃcio

Mark R. Abbott Elizabeth Hoﬀman* Patricia D. Galloway, ex oﬃcio

Camilla P. Benbow Douglas D. Randall Arden L. Bement, Jr., ex oﬃcio

Tami Tamashiro, Executive Secretary

* Board Consultant

Contents

Memorandum ..................................................................................................................................v

Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................................vi

Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................1

Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3

Key Findings ....................................................................................................................................6

Recommendations to the U.S. Government .....................................................................................9

Guidance for the National Science Foundation ..............................................................................14

Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................16

Endnotes ........................................................................................................................................17

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy ...............................................................21

Appendix B: Charge to the Task Force on Sustainable Energy .......................................................43

Appendix C: Roundtable Discussion 1—February 8, 2008 ...........................................................47

Appendix D: Roundtable Discussion 2—June 19, 2008 ................................................................51

Appendix E: Roundtable Discussion 3—September 4, 2008 .........................................................55

Bibliography and Other Related Sources ........................................................................................59

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August 3, 2009

MEMORANDUM FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

SUBJECT: Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Actions for an Eﬀective Energy Economy

Transformation

e United States is facing a critical challenge to its future prosperity, environmental well-being, and

national security rooted in its current dependence on fossil fuel for energy. e National Science

Board (Board) is pleased to present its recommendations for national actions to fundamentally

transform our current fossil fuel energy economy to a sustainable energy economy.

e Board initiated a study in October 2007 to examine current activities in sustainable energy and

the science and engineering challenges related to the development of sustainable energy. e study,

lead by the Board’s Task Force on Sustainable Energy, includes recommendations for a nationally

coordinated science and engineering research and education initiative, including explicit guidance on

the role of the National Science Foundation. e Board’s report draws on the ﬁndings from three

public roundtable discussions held in Washington, DC; Golden, Colorado; and Berkeley, California,

which were organized by the Task Force in 2008 to receive insight from energy stakeholders

throughout the country.

Transformation of our current fossil fuel economy to a sustainable energy economy requires

national leadership and coordination; a new U.S. energy policy framework; and robust support for

sustainable energy research, development, demonstration, deployment, and education. e scope

and urgency of the sustainable energy challenge requires immediate and broad-based U.S. and global

commitment. Such a transformation will promote economic prosperity, national security, and

stewardship for continued vitality of the environment. It is time to join together with resolve and

determination to build a successful energy future.

Steven C. Beering

Chairman

National Science Board

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703) 292-7000 http://www.nsf.gov/nsb email: NSBoﬃ[email protected]

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Acknowledgments

e National Science Board appreciates the numerous individuals and organizations who

contributed to the work of the Board’s Task Force on Sustainable Energy. Lists of distinguished

participants and speakers involved in roundtable discussions with the Task Force are provided in

Appendixes C through E.

We are particularly grateful for the hospitality and eﬀorts with the Board-sponsored roundtable

discussions from staﬀ members at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and at the

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). We oﬀer special thanks to David Glickson and

Ivilina ornton at NREL; and to David Trinkle, Mary Barnum, and Natalie Lui at UC Berkeley.

We are especially indebted for contributions and expertise from Douglas Arent, Robert Noun,

and Don Gwinner at NREL; and National Science Foundation staﬀ members Robert O’Connor,

Division of Social and Economic Sciences; Trung Van Nguyen, Energy for Sustainability Program;

and Lisa-Joy Zgorski, Oﬃce of Legislative and Public Aﬀairs.

e National Science Board Oﬃce provided essential support to the work of the Task Force.

Especially deserving of recognition are: Tami Tamashiro as Executive Secretary of the Task Force,

for her thoughtful and diligent work throughout the duration of this project; Jennie Moehlmann

and Jean Pomeroy, for policy oversight and guidance; Pamela McKinley, for managerial support

of roundtable discussions; Jennifer Richards, for support of roundtable discussions and editorial

support on report drafts; Annette Douglas, for roundtable discussion support; and Ann Ferrante, for

editorial and publishing support.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Executive Summary

e United States faces a critical challenge to transform our current fossil fuel based energy economy

to a stable and sustainable energy economy. is transformation must be achieved in a timely

manner to increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmental stewardship and reduce

energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth. In this report, the National

Science Board (Board) oﬀers key ﬁndings, recommendations to the U.S. Government, and guidance

to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Collectively, these actions will initiate and sustain a

transformation to a sustainable energy economy. e following six topics of key ﬁndings support

and form the basis of the Board’s recommendations and guidance:

Finding 1: U.S. Government leadership and coordination: A comprehensive coordinated Federal

strategy is required for sustainable energy initiatives.

Finding 2: R&D investment: Private and Federal support for sustainable energy R&D is inadequate.

Finding 3: Policy development: e U.S. energy economy is carbon-intensive and does not

adequately value the environment as a public good.

Finding 4: Energy education and workforce: Human capital development in the sustainable energy

sector is vital.

Finding 5: Global cooperation: Limited international engagement and collaboration inhibits progress

on sustainable energy solutions.

Finding 6: Energy awareness and action: Strong public consensus and support for sustainable energy

actions are needed to achieve a national transformation to a sustainable energy economy.

e Board makes the following overarching priority recommendation and six component

recommendations to the U.S. Government:

Priority Recommendation

e U.S. Government should develop, clearly deﬁne, and lead

a nationally coordinated research, development, demonstration,

deployment, and education (RD3E) strategy to transform

the U.S. energy system to a sustainable energy economy

that is far less carbon intensive.

Recommendation 1: Lead a Coordinated RD3E Strategy in Sustainable Energy

• Establish a leadership body to coordinate all Federal activities in sustainable energy

• Provide a leading example by adopting sustainable energy measures and analyses throughout

the U.S. Government

• Organize and coordinate energy RD3E activities across the United States to link fundamental

scientiﬁc discoveries with technological innovation

Recommendation 2: Boost Research and Development (R&D) Investment

• Increase Federal investment in sustainable energy R&D

• Facilitate innovation by encouraging investment in research and commercialization of

sustainable energy technologies across all economic sectors

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Recommendation 3: Facilitate Essential Policies

Consider stable policies that facilitate discovery, development, deployment, and •

commercialization of sustainable energy technologies

Accelerate adoption and commercialization of sustainable energy technologies•

Recommendation 4: Support Education and Workforce Development

Bolster science and technology education related to sustainable energy at all levels•

Bolster workforce training in sustainable energy-related ﬁelds•

Recommendation 5: Lead Globally

Engage in global cooperation for sustainable energy strategies •

Reduce barriers to cross-national collaboration in sustainable energy-related research•

Recommendation 6: Promote Public Awareness and Action

Inform consumers and motivate the public to actively seek out, invest in, and implement •

energy-saving practices and technologies

In support of a nationally coordinated sustainable energy RD3E strategy, the Board oﬀers the

following primary and component guidance to NSF:

Priority Guidance for NSF

e National Science Foundation (NSF) should continue to

increase emphasis on innovation in sustainable energy

technologies and education as a top priority.

Guidance 1

: Coordinate and enhance sustainable energy activities with other Federal agencies and

throughout NSF headquarters

Guidance 2

: Strengthen systems approaches in research programs that focus on issues for a

sustainable energy economy

Guidance 3: Strengthen science and engineering partnerships among states, universities, the

private sector, and international entities

Guidance 4

: Support education and workforce development to train students, researchers,

teachers, and technicians for a sustainable energy economy

Guidance 5: Collaborate internationally through the NSF Oﬃce of International Science and

Engineering and in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development

Guidance 6

: Promote public awareness and action through programs for students, NSF-funded

researchers, and the public

e United States can promote a sustainable energy economy through creation of a nationally

coordinated sustainable energy RD3E strategy. is strategy would provide Federal leadership and

coordination, boost public and private investment in sustainable energy RD3E, construct essential

policies to facilitate innovation in sustainable energy, build human capital, engage in international

cooperation, and promote public awareness and action. With resolve and invigorated initiative, the

United States is positioned to successfully build and support a sustainable energy future.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Introduction

Transformation of the U.S. fossil fuel-based energy economy to a sustainable energy economy is a

critical grand challenge facing the Nation today. is transformation will require national leadership

and coordination, a new U.S. energy policy framework, and robust support for sustainable energy

RD3E. Together, these approaches will promote our national security through increasing U.S.

energy independence, ensure environmental stewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity,

and generate continued economic growth through innovation in energy technologies and expansion

of green jobs.

Sustainability is deﬁned as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.

Within the context of sustainability, the term “sustainable

energy” is broadly deﬁned in this report. Sustainable energy includes a wide range of clean,

equitable, reliable, renewable, secure, and economically viable energy strategies and solutions that

value environmental and ecosystem stewardship. Sustainable and clean energy sources also have

signiﬁcantly lower total and per unit greenhouse gas emissions, reduce U.S. dependence on imported

energy sources, and are aﬀordable and available in suﬃcient quantity to enable continued economic

and social development.

Achieving a sustainable energy economy requires both near- and long-term actions. Urgent near-

term actions include: developing mechanisms for conserving energy; encouraging and implementing

energy eﬃciency improvements; and identifying, developing, demonstrating, and deploying both

existing and emerging sustainable energy technologies. e near-term, multi-pronged actions

should be capable of supporting continued economic growth, manifesting proper stewardship of

the environment, and adapting to future environmental conditions as necessary. Long-term needs

include: understanding and applying the basic science related to climate and the carbon cycle,

accelerating innovation in sustainable energy technologies and facilitating their transfer into the

marketplace, exploring the potential of new materials for better energy storage and conversion from

one form to another, and educating and training a workforce with the skills needed in the new

energy economy. ese eﬀorts require robust support for science and engineering research related

to sustainable energy, as well as signiﬁcant attention to the economic, social, and environmental

impacts of energy technologies.

U.S. Energy Supply

U.S. energy supply has varied throughout the Nation’s history. During the Nation’s formative years,

wood was the primary energy source used. Around 1885, coal surpassed wood as the preeminent

energy supply produced in the United States, and coal was in turn replaced by petroleum in the

middle of the 20th century. e United States produced its own energy supply until the late 1950s,

when energy consumption began to outpace domestic production.

Over the past 40 years, imports

of crude oil and reﬁned petroleum products have constituted an increasing share of the growing

supply of petroleum required to meet U.S. demand.

Today, 85 percent of the U.S. energy supply comes from the combustion of fossil fuels (e.g., oil,

natural gas, and coal).

Nuclear electric power provides 8 percent of the U.S. energy supply,

and

energy derived from water (hydroelectric), geothermal, wind, sun (solar), and biomass account

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

for the remaining 7 percent of the energy supply.

Dramatic advances and investment in the

production, storage, and distribution of U.S. sustainable energy sources are needed to increase the

level of sustainable energy supplies.

U.S. Energy Consumption

U.S. energy consumption varies by economic sector and by energy source. About one-third of

energy delivered in the United States is consumed by the industrial sector, and one-half of that

amount is consumed by three industries (bulk chemicals, petroleum reﬁning, and paper products).

e transportation sector accounts for the second highest share of total end-use consumption at 29

percent, followed by the residential sector at 21 percent and the commercial sector at 18 percent.

Across all sectors, petroleum is the largest primary energy source at around 40 percent, followed

by natural gas (23 percent), coal (22 percent), nuclear electric power (8 percent), and renewable

energy (7 percent).

e transportation sector has historically consumed the most petroleum, with

its petroleum consumption dramatically increasing over the past few decades. In 2007, petroleum

accounted for 95 percent of the transportation sector’s energy consumption.

10,11

Vision for a Sustainable Energy Future

e imperative to build a sustainable energy future is primarily based on three urgent priorities that

should collectively drive the transformation toward a sustainable energy future. e three priorities

are to:

promote national and economic security by increasing U.S. energy independence,•

enhance environmental stewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and•

generate continued economic growth through innovation in energy technologies and •

expansion of green jobs.

One priority for a sustainable energy economy is to promote national and economic security

by increasing U.S. energy independence. e United States imported about 58 percent of the

petroleum it consumed during 2007.

U.S. reliance on foreign oil sources places the national

transportation sector and economy at risk of supply disruptions. Increasing U.S. energy

independence will help to ensure a reliable supply of energy resources and more control over price

volatility.

Equally important, there is an urgent imperative to enhance environmental stewardship and

reduce energy and carbon intensity in a new sustainable energy economy. Global atmospheric

concentrations of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) have increased

since 1750.

Global increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are due primarily to

fossil fuel use; energy-related carbon dioxide emissions accounted for more than 80 percent of total

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2007.

e Summary for Policy Makers of the Fourth Assessment

Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that most of the observed

increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely

due to the

observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Utilizing sustainable energy

sources, deploying energy-eﬃcient technologies, and reducing energy consumption

will help reduce

both greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate changes.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

ird, investment in a sustainable energy future will enable economic growth and spur job creation

in the United States and in other countries. Ensuring continued economic growth requires

identifying and developing sustainable energy sources and eﬃcient storage and delivery systems,

while paying close attention to environmental impacts and climate change. Also, investments in

human capital must be increased throughout the sustainable energy economy, from educational

institutions to the private sector.

Process for Producing the Report

In October 2007, the Board established the Task Force on Sustainable Energy (Task Force) to

examine ways that the U.S. Government could address the science and engineering (S&E) challenges

related to building a sustainable energy economy in the United States. e Board charged the Task

Force with developing recommendations for stakeholders on a national research and education

initiative on sustainable energy, with a speciﬁc emphasis on deﬁning NSF’s role in carrying out the

initiative.

To accomplish the Board’s goals, the Task Force organized three public roundtable discussions in

2008 in Washington, DC; Golden, Colorado; and Berkeley, California. Participants included

Board Members; representatives from the scientiﬁc community, NSF, and other pertinent Federal

agencies involved in energy-related research; and stakeholders from academia, industry, and non-

governmental organizations. e Task Force examined current activities in sustainable energy and

explored possibilities for developing a long-term, coordinated, inter-agency strategy to achieve a

sustainable energy future for the United States.

is report contains key ﬁndings, recommendations to the U.S. Government, and guidance to NSF,

based on the work of the Task Force. Collectively, these recommendations and NSF guidance build

a RD3E strategy in sustainable energy that, if implemented, would catalyze the transformation to

a secure, environmentally responsible, and sustainable U.S. energy economy. is national RD3E

strategy must include U.S. Government leadership and commitment, strong enabling policies to

promote favorable market conditions, robust and long-term stability for sustainable energy research,

support for education and workforce development, international engagement, and public awareness

and action.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Key Findings

e U.S. Government should lead a coordinated eﬀort to substantially increase and leverage Federal

and private sector investment in sustainable energy research and development (R&D). is eﬀort

must establish policies that enable market conditions favorable for the development and widespread

deployment of sustainable energy sources and technologies, educate and train a workforce to address

energy challenges, and advocate energy eﬃciency and energy conservation measures both in the

marketplace and among private citizens. ese actions, taken together in a coordinated eﬀort,

will foster the transformation to a sustainable energy economy that values and rewards sustainable

and clean energy solutions. U.S. Government leadership must be coupled with active cooperation

among the public and private sectors.

Six key ﬁndings informed the recommendations to the U.S. Government and guidance to NSF

oﬀered in this report.

Finding 1: U.S. Government Leadership and Coordination

Current Status: Currently, there is no comprehensive coordinated strategy for sustainable energy

initiatives at the Federal level, and energy RD3E activities are not well coordinated across the

country. Federal agencies also have not made signiﬁcant progress in adopting energy eﬃciency and

conservation measures in their own operations.

Goal: A forward-looking, long-term, coordinated strategy for achieving a stable, sustainable,

and clean energy future. e strategy must substantially increase investment in sustainable

energy RD3E, establish appropriate policies to facilitate development and widespread deployment

of sustainable energy sources and technologies, educate and train a workforce to address energy

challenges, advocate energy eﬃciency and energy conservation measures, and upgrade national

energy infrastructure (e.g., modernizing the national electricity grid and ground transportation

system). e national strategy must include and readily adopt opportunities for eﬃcient energy

usage, storage and distribution. e national sustainable energy strategy should beneﬁt from lessons

learned from individual states’ experiences in sustainable energy eﬀorts. For example, California

estimates that it reduced annual electricity use by 15 percent in 2003 through adopting eﬃciency

measures for utilities and standards for buildings and appliances.

Finding 2: R&D Investment

Current Status: Within the current policy environment, the level of Federal support for sustainable

energy R&D is inadequate to meet the scale, scope, and urgency of the challenges of achieving

sustainable energy solutions. Historically, U.S. energy policies and the level of investment in

sustainable energy R&D have not resulted in the scale of market development and deployment of

sustainable energy sources and technologies needed to address the energy challenges faced by the

Nation. e unique circumstances of the energy problem – attempting to transform an already

established sector and market – would require active attention to all stages along the R&D spectrum:

basic research, applied research, development, and market commercialization and deployment.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

As demonstrated by Yoichi Kaya

and adopted by the IPCC,

the “Kaya Identity” relates carbon

emissions to gross domestic product (GDP), energy intensity (energy per unit GDP), and carbon

intensity (carbon emissions per unit energy).

Nations have aspired to reduce carbon emissions by

reducing energy intensity and/or carbon intensity through changes in policy, but a balanced portfolio

of policies and R&D is needed to minimize the likely negative impacts on GDP characteristic of either

approach alone.

Goal: Substantial and continuous investment in sustainable energy R&D. Such investment

requires attention to both basic and applied research – to facilitate basic discovery and development of

new processes and materials

– and to bring sustainable energy technologies to the marketplace. is

approach is absolutely critical to achieving innovation and widespread deployment of sustainable energy

technologies.

Federal investment in energy research should be substantially increased and applied to a wide range of

energy sources and solutions, in order to have informed decision-making. Areas of research that require

immediate attention include, but are not limited to: energy eﬃciency; energy storage; ecosystem impacts

of energy technologies; established sustainable energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass;

enhanced geothermal systems; cellulosic biofuel production; smart transmission grids; and ocean/kinetic

power. ese research areas all have tremendous potential, but are currently in various stages of technical

maturity.

Finding 3: Policy Development

Current Status: e U.S. energy economy is carbon-intensive and does not adequately value the

environment as a public good. Capital-intensive energy infrastructure technologies have long lifetimes,

ranging from 20 to 100 years, making them subject to both technological and institutional “lock-in”

(i.e., conditions that favor existing technologies over new technologies).

Goal: Energy policies that facilitate the development and deployment of sustainable energy

technologies and are established and evaluated through the use of social and behavioral research.

ese measures should encourage long-term commitment to substantial private sector investment in

sustainable energy R&D, facilitate widespread adoption of new energy technologies, and value the

attributes of sustainable energy usage. Adoption of new energy technologies should be facilitated, not

restrained, by eﬀective energy policy.

Finding 4: Energy Education and Workforce

Current Status: As part of a broader national crisis in science and math education, institutions of higher

education and the public and private sectors are struggling to train and retain talented specialists in

energy research and skilled technicians in energy-related specialties.

is need will only grow as more

energy professionals and technicians are required and as new professions emerge as a result of investment

in sustainable energy.

Goal: Human capital development in the sustainable energy sector that is vital to the discovery of

sustainable energy solutions, as well as to the achievement and maintenance of a sustainable energy

economy. Increased eﬀorts are needed in education and workforce development related to sustainable

energy RD3E. ese eﬀorts include ensuring the U.S. education system addresses the technologies of

today and the skills required in the future.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Finding 5: Global Cooperation

Current Status: Currently, no coordinated strategy exists among U.S. Federal agencies for

international involvement in sustainable energy research, development, and deployment. is

limited international engagement and collaboration inhibits progress toward critical multilateral and

bilateral actions to cooperate on sustainable energy solutions. Further, the experiences of foreign

countries engaged in sustainable energy initiatives can oﬀer important guidance to the United

States,

and it is vital for the Nation to actively collaborate with those other countries in sustainable

energy RD3E where possible.

Goal: A coordinated strategy for international involvement in sustainable energy research,

development, and deployment involving active engagement and collaboration with industry

in both developed and developing countries. Early engagement, direct involvement, and active

dialogue are essential for ensuring international cooperation, mutual innovation, and progress in

sustainable energy. It is particularly important to encourage stakeholders in developing countries

to advocate for sustainable energy, to lead in developing and deploying technologies, and to create

pathways for global deployment.

Finding 6: Energy Awareness and Action

Current Status: Strong public consensus and support for sustainable energy actions are needed

to achieve a national transformation to a sustainable energy economy.

While there is much

publicly accessible information about energy issues, greater public awareness and recognition of

the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions are essential to appropriately inform and motivate

environmentally responsible consumer decisions and behaviors.

Goal: National public awareness of sustainable energy solutions and education regarding

energy consumption, and energy eﬃciency are needed along with strategic engagement with

the public to motivate appropriate individual consumer action. Such a goal would include

widespread dissemination of accurate information and guidance on various energy issues, such as

the importance of transitioning from using fossil fuels to using sustainable energy sources, as well as

innovative eﬀorts to engage the public in ways that will eﬀectively motivate action.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Recommendations to the U.S. Government

e future prosperity and economic progress of the United States depend signiﬁcantly on

developing a nationally coordinated long-term strategy to transform toward a stable and sustainable

energy economy. is transformation must be achieved in a suﬃciently timely manner to reduce

prospective greenhouse gas impacts and U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy. e Board

makes the following overarching priority recommendation:

Priority Recommendation

e U.S. Government should develop, clearly deﬁne, and lead

a nationally coordinated research, development, demonstration,

deployment, and education (RD3E) strategy to transform

the U.S. energy system to a sustainable energy economy

that is far less carbon intensive.

is strategy must include clearly deﬁned science and engineering research and education objectives

that prioritize national security, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. Enacting this

strategy requires U.S. Government action on the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1: Lead a Coordinated RD3E Strategy in Sustainable Energy

Establish a leadership body to coordinate all Federal activities in sustainable energy

Establish a Presidential Sustainable Energy Council to champion the transformation of the •

national energy economy and lead an interagency working group to implement sustainable

energy goals. is Council should be under the direction of the Executive Oﬃce of the

President.

Set, through this new council, a clear national strategy and objectives in sustainable energy, •

and require cross-agency coordination in all related activities. Federal agency coordination is

demonstrated in a new collaborative initiative by NSF and the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE), Regaining our Energy Science and Engineering Edge (RE-ENERGYSE), which

focuses on preparing students for careers related to research and education on clean energy.

Conduct, through this new council, “systems-level” analyses of U.S. energy systems (e.g., •

next-generation ground transportation, next-generation utility studies).

Provide a leading example by adopting sustainable energy measures and analyses throughout the

U.S. Government

Encourage all Federal agencies to become exemplars for deploying sustainable energy •

technologies. ese practices should be adopted throughout the U.S. Government supply

chain. Increased use of sustainable energy technologies (e.g., in heating and lighting,

industrial power, transportation, and information and communications technologies)

that can displace technologies with greater energy consumption by Federal agencies and

government contractors will generate signiﬁcant demand and stimulate increased commercial

development and deployment.

Support implementation of Federal and state eﬃciency policies, including the support of •

national eﬃciency standards for buildings, equipment, and appliances.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Incorporate life cycle and cost-beneﬁt analyses into Federal agency program planning and •

evaluation of their energy usage. ese analyses should consider all energy technologies,

applications, and systems, as well as take into account key sustainability metrics in areas, such

as greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and soil fertility.

Organize and coordinate energy RD3E activities across the country to link fundamental

scientiﬁc discoveries with technological innovation

Accelerate critical knowledge transfer between stakeholders (e.g., Federal and state •

governments, academic institutions, industry, and national laboratories) for the invention

and commercialization of new sustainable energy technologies, applications, and processes.

Interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, university-industry collaborative research centers can

help to successfully promote technology transfer.

Foster public and private partnerships to pursue transformative, applications-oriented •

research among multiple stakeholders and communities. ese public-private partnerships

will collaboratively demonstrate the commercial viability of sustainable energy technologies

and work to encourage deployment of new technologies in markets.

Recommendation 2: Boost R&D Investment

Increase Federal investment in sustainable energy R&D

Deﬁne and support a national sustainable energy R&D program at a greatly increased •

and appropriate scale to meet sustainable energy technological and deployment challenges

necessary to reduce energy intensity and carbon intensity in a timely manner. e R&D

program should address system resiliency to energy supply and transmission disruptions,

accommodate base-load demands through energy supply and storage systems, support

a balance of centralized and distributed energy generation systems, and favor long-term

strategies that demonstrate signiﬁcant return on investment.

Ensure long-term stability for Federal energy research, development, demonstration, •

and deployment by creating a Clean Energy Fund. is funding mechanism must be

administered in a manner that facilitates transformative market concepts and does not simply

reinforce the status quo. e Clean Energy Fund should guarantee long-term funding

and commitment to support the rapid commercialization of competitive and innovative

sustainable energy technologies, applications, and systems. e Clean Energy Fund will

be particularly useful in supporting large-scale, long-term development and demonstration

initiatives.

Support a range of sustainable energy alternatives, their enabling infrastructure, and their •

eﬀective demonstration and deployment. Funding should support investigation into a wide

range of sustainable energy RD3E topics, including, but not limited to:

Advanced, sustainable nuclear power (ﬁssion and fusion); ◦

Alternative vehicles and transportation technologies; ◦

Basic science and engineering research that feeds into applied energy technologies; ◦

Behavioral sciences related to energy consumption; ◦

Carbon capture, sequestration, and utilization; ◦

Economic models and assessments related to sustainable energy; ◦

Energy eﬃciency technologies at all levels of generation, transmission, distribution and ◦

consumption;

Energy storage; ◦

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Information and communications technologies that can help conserve energy and/or use ◦

it more eﬃciently, such as broadband cyberinfrastructure;

Renewable energy supply technologies (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, ◦

biomass/biofuels, kinetic, tidal, wave, ocean thermal technologies);

Smart grid; ◦

“Systems” approaches to large-scale sustainability solutions, including full life cycle ◦

analyses of energy systems (e.g., advanced fossil-fuel technologies and biomass-derived

fuels); and

Zero-energy buildings. ◦

Support and apply basic science research related to the climate system, climate change, and •

the carbon cycle.

Facilitate innovation by encouraging investment in research and commercialization of

sustainable energy technologies across all economic sectors

Encourage strategic public-private partnerships in sustainable energy basic and applied •

research. ese partnerships should involve Federal and state governments, science and

technology centers, academic institutions, industry, and other energy stakeholders.

Understand the perspectives of non-Federal stakeholders (e.g., state and local governments, •

public utilities, and industry), and actively strengthen their involvement in a nationally

coordinated sustainable energy RD3E strategy.

Recommendation 3: Facilitate Essential Policies

Consider stable policies that facilitate discovery, development, deployment, and

commercialization of sustainable energy technologies

Adopt national targets for reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions based •

upon scientiﬁc ﬁndings about carbon-intensity reduction strategies.

Encourage all states to create a goal-oriented renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and work •

with states that are already implementing such standards to consider them in the national

strategy. Consider implementing a national RPS that focuses on the goals for a sustainable

energy future, in order to encourage the development and commercialization of a broad

range of sustainable energy technologies and solutions, instead of one that selects energy

technologies and sources.

Encourage the establishment of aggressive Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for •

vehicles.

Encourage the establishment of national energy-eﬃciency standards for buildings, •

equipment, and appliances.

ese standards should be periodically updated as new energy

eﬃcient technologies are developed and deployed from basic and applied research.

Create incentives for U.S. businesses and state and local governments to adopt sustainable •

business practices. For example, programs analogous to the Malcolm Baldrige National

Quality Award managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology should be

considered to recognize businesses and states that demonstrate leadership in sustainability.

Establish clear guidelines and policies that accelerate the retirement of older infrastructure •

that does not meet current environmental standards. ese U.S. government-wide guidelines

should reﬂect science and engineering research outcomes.

Work with states to harmonize state and Federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) rules•

and

understand the implications of life cycle analyses for qualifying fuels.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Establish ﬁnancial mechanisms and/or incentives that appropriately reﬂect the impact of •

greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide) and are informed by basic and applied

research.

Understand the explicit and implicit subsidies of current energy technologies that impede •

conversion to the use of sustainable energy sources. Actively work to establish research-based

strategies that encourage greater market deployment of sustainable energy technologies.

Accelerate adoption and commercialization of sustainable energy technologies

Stimulate the investment environment for sustainable energy technologies with incentives •

that are predictable over time (e.g., Investment Tax Credit,

Production Tax Credit).

Fast-track establishment of a “Clean Energy Fund,” as described in Recommendation 2.•

Recommendation 4: Support Education and Workforce Development

Bolster science and technology education related to sustainable energy at all levels

Support eﬀorts to include sustainable energy as an area of focus in science standards, •

assessments, and instructional materials in grades K-12.

Support eﬀorts to prepare and enhance teachers in grades K-12 in sustainable energy topics.•

Create new and strengthen existing programs in sustainable energy research and education at •

the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Bolster workforce training in sustainable energy-related ﬁelds

Create and strengthen Federal government programs to develop, and train a sustainable •

energy workforce capable of functioning in interdisciplinary energy ﬁelds.

Support technical training programs in energy-related ﬁelds at national laboratories, •

community colleges, and undergraduate institutions.

Recommendation 5: Lead Globally

Engage in global cooperation for sustainable energy strategies

Actively participate in international eﬀorts to strengthen global environmental stewardship, •

and to develop and deploy sustainable energy technologies.

For example, the United States

should collaborate with other countries, especially developing countries, to encourage the

adoption of sustainable energy technologies with low/zero carbon dioxide emissions. e

United States should also learn from ideas and technologies developed in other countries that

are further advanced in areas of sustainable energy RD3E as part of its global collaborative

eﬀorts.

Provide leadership in deﬁning and implementing policy, technology cooperation, and ﬁscal •

mechanisms to adequately address the magnitude of the global energy challenge.

Reduce barriers to cross-national collaboration in sustainable energy-related research

Promote policies with other countries that protect intellectual property rights while •

stimulating sustainable innovation.

Foster greater opportunities for international exchanges of scientists and engineers. In part, •

more collaboration could occur if certain constraints can be overcome in issuing foreign-

national (H-1B) visas.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Work with developing countries to facilitate knowledge transfer in energy technologies and •

adoption of advanced energy technologies suited to local environments.

Recommendation 6: Promote Public Awareness and Action

Inform consumers and motivate the public to actively seek out, invest in, and implement energy-

saving practices and technologies

Create and support a multi-pronged, integrated energy eﬃciency and conservation •

strategy to encourage consumer adoption of available, cost-eﬀective, and energy-eﬃcient

technologies. is integrated strategy should build on social, behavioral, and educational

research to promote informed and timely consumer action; an eﬀective strategy will require a

combination of science-based policies, institutional changes, and improved communication

and information quality.

Provide accurate, easily accessible information on the life cycle impacts of energy choices to •

consumers to inform and motivate the public to actively seek out, invest in, and implement

energy-saving practices and technologies.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Guidance for the National Science Foundation

In support of a nationally coordinated sustainable energy RD3E strategy, the Board oﬀers the

following primary guidance for NSF:

Priority Guidance for NSF

e National Science Foundation (NSF) should continue

to increase emphasis on innov

ation in sustainable energy

technologies and education as a top priority.

As components of this overarching NSF guidance, the Board oﬀers the following speciﬁc guidance to

NSF:

Guidance 1: Coordinate and E

nhance Sustainable Energy Activities

• Collaborate with other Federal agencies through a newly formed interagency working group

on sustainable energy under the aegis of the Presidential Sustainable Energy Council, in

accordance with Recommendation 1. e new NSF and DOE collaborative initiative RE-

ENERGYSE is an example of cross-agency collaboration.

• Contribute to the entire range of national sustainable energy RD3E investment areas through

NSF-supported research, education, and infrastructure programs.

• Integrate energy eﬃciency measures throughout NSF headquarters to serve as an exemplar

of building eﬃciency. NSF headquarters should demonstrate the U.S. Government’s

commitment to sustainability and the environment.

Guidance 2: Strengthen Systems Approaches in Research Programs

• Develop and strengthen interdisciplinary “systems” approaches for research programs that

focus on basic science, environmental, social, and economic issues in a sustainable energy

economy. Examples of systems approaches that could be applied to the sustainable energy

economy include the use of ecosystem life cycle and whole-system analyses; consumer

behavior information; and economic net value of technologies, applications, and systems.

• Enhance interdisciplinary research programs that develop environmental accounting

techniques that can utilize both biophysical and economic values in parallel.

• Fund innovative science and engineering research on reducing energy and carbon intensity

while minimizing the negative eﬀects on GDP.

Guidance 3: Strengthen Science and Engineering Partnerships

• Support science and engineering partnerships for building clean and sustainable energy

initiatives among states, universities, and the private sector. International entities should be

an essential part of many of these partnerships.

• Consider expanding NSF centers programs that focus on energy topics and foster successful

public-private partnerships.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Guidance 4: Support Education and Workforce Development

Create new and strengthen existing programs to prepare and enhance students, researchers, •

and technicians for a sustainable energy workforce. ese programs should involve

multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary curricula and experiences, for example:

Special training grants for beginning researchers in sustainable energy ﬁelds within the ◦

existing NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program; and

Special emphasis on sustainable energy for programs within the Research Experience ◦

for Undergraduates program; Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship

program; Advanced Technological Education program; or Course, Curriculum, and

Laboratory Improvement program.

Promote interest in science and energy ﬁelds during K–12 education by supporting the •

development and dissemination of programs and curricula designed to teach students about

energy, the environment, and related economic issues.

Support, in conjunction with other Federal agencies, technical education programs in •

community colleges and undergraduate institutions that include support for science and

engineering teachers, technicians, and professional development activities.

Guidance 5: Collaborate Internationally

Encourage international collaboration in sustainable energy RD3E through the NSF Oﬃce •

of International Science and Engineering and through partnerships with the U.S. Agency for

International Development.

Guidance 6: Promote Public Awareness and Action

Foster societal literacy and encourage eﬃcient and eﬀective use of energy by enhancing •

existing programs and by developing new sustainable energy education programs for

students, NSF-funded researchers, and the public. Examples of NSF programs that could be

enhanced to include a focus on sustainable energy are Innovative Technology Experiences for

Students and Teachers, Informal Science Education, and Discovery Research K-12.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Conclusion

e scope and urgency of the sustainable energy challenge requires immediate and robust U.S.

and global commitment. is commitment is necessary to eﬀectively transform the current U.S.

economy to a sustainable energy economy. Such a transformation will help promote energy

independence, foster future economic prosperity and ensure stewardship and continued vitality of

the environment. e United States can promote a sustainable energy economy through creation

of a nationally coordinated sustainable energy RD3E strategy. is strategy would provide Federal

leadership and coordination, boost public and private investment in sustainable energy RD3E,

construct essential policies to facilitate innovation in sustainable energy, build human capital, engage

in international cooperation, and promote public awareness and action.

is report reﬂects a concerted eﬀort by the Board, colleagues, and stakeholders throughout the

Federal, private, academic, and nonproﬁt sectors to address the challenges and opportunities for

sustainable energy in the 21st century. e recommendations oﬀered to the U.S. Government

strive to promote leadership and coordinated eﬀorts to move toward a sustainable energy economy.

In addition, the Board oﬀers guidance for NSF that aims to prioritize innovation in sustainable

energy, by supporting sustainable energy RD3E that leads to the development and deployment of

viable sustainable energy technologies. With resolve and invigorated initiative, the United States is

positioned to successfully build and support a sustainable energy future.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Endnotes

e Energy Information Administration deﬁnes carbon intensity as: “e amount of carbon by weight emitted per

unit of energy consumed. A common measure of carbon intensity is weight of carbon per British thermal unit (Btu) of

energy. When there is only one fossil fuel under consideration, the carbon intensity and the emissions coeﬃcient are

identical. When there are several fuels, carbon intensity is based on their combined emissions coeﬃcients weighted by

their energy consumption levels.” Available online at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_c.htm. Energy intensity is

the energy per unit of gross domestic product. Reductions in energy and carbon intensity factor into reducing carbon

emissions.

e deﬁnition of “sustainability” used in this report is derived from the deﬁnition of “sustainable development” in the

1987 report of the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/EIA-0384(2007).

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, June 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee. New Science for a Secure and Sustainable

Energy Future. (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, December 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/

EIA-0384(2007). (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, June 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity

Preliminary 2007 Statistics. (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, May 2008). Available online at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/rea_prereport.html.

For further information about U.S. energy supply, see Appendix A.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/EIA-0384(2007).

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, June 2008).

Ibid.

For further information about U.S. energy consumption, see Appendix A.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/EIA-0384(2007).

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, June 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. How Dependent is the United States on Foreign Oil?

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy). Available online at: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/crudeoil_faqs.asp.

R.K. Pachauri and A. Reisinger, eds. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II

and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC,

November 2007). Available online at: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States

2007. (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008). Available online at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/.

e term “very likely” indicates a probability of occurrence greater than 90 percent. R.K. Pachauri and A. Reisinger,

eds. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report

of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC, November 2007). Available online at:

http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm.

e Climate Group. Smart2020: Enabling the Low Carbon Economy in the Information Age. (London: e Climate

Group, 2008).

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Background information about the history and context of sustainable energy is included in Appendix A. Appendix

B includes the charge to the Task Force. Appendixes C, D, and E describe the key topics discussed at each roundtable

discussion and provide a complete list of roundtable participants.

Mark D. Levine. “What Roles Can Federal and State Governments Play in Promoting Sustainable Energy?”

Presentation to the National Science Board. (Berkeley, CA: September 4, 2008).

Y. Kaya and K. Yokoboi. Environment, Energy, and Economy: Strategies for Sustainability, presentation to the Tokyo

Conference on Global Environment. (Tokyo, Japan: 1993).

For more information, see: http://www.ipcc.ch/.

e Kaya Identity, developed in 1993 by Yorchi Kaya, is a mathematical equation used to calculate carbon dioxide

emissions and is useful in evaluating the proposed and actual performance of decarbonization policies.

For example, increased investment in basic research should include high-performing materials that orchestrate the

seamless conversion of energy between light, electrons, and chemical bonds. U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy

Sciences Advisory Committee. New Science for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future. (Washington, DC: U.S.

Department of Energy, December 2008).

ere is currently a lack of suﬃcient engineers to plan for future transmission infrastructure needs or to perform

environmental impact analyses on new transmission lines. In Colorado, there is a 4 percent set-aside for residential solar

panel installations, which people have been quick to take advantage. But once the photovoltaic arrays are installed, there

is typically a considerable delay – on the order of months – before the utility can send a trained worker to convert the

meter for the arrays to become operational.

For example, the Danish government has set ambitious goals to reduce national dependence on foreign sources of

energy, including pledging to double the fraction of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2025 and to reduce

total energy consumption by 4 percent by 2020. Denmark has doubled the capacity of combined heat and power plants

in the past 25 years, and electricity generation from renewable sources satisﬁed 13 percent of the total electricity demand

in 2007, which is up from 3 percent in 1990. e Danish government also invests heavily in sustainable energy R&D,

fostering eﬀective partnerships with public and private research institutions. As a result, exports of energy technology

increased 18 percent in 2006. Denmark, Ministry of Climate and Energy. e Danish Example—Towards an Energy

Eﬃcient and Climate Friendly Economy. (Copenhagen, Denmark: Ministry of Climate and Energy, April 2008).

Available online at: http://www.ens.dk/sw12333.asp.

Corresponds to Conclusion 9, “e S&T community—together with the general public—has a critical role to play

in advancing sustainable energy solutions and must be eﬀectively engaged.” .InterAcademy Council. Lighting the Way:

Toward a Sustainable Energy Future. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands: InterAcademy Council, October 2007). Available

online at: http://www.interacademycouncil.net/?id=12161.

All sustainable energy solutions need to be evaluated according to a systems-level approach in order to enable

transparent and well-informed policy decisions about the use of energy sources and technologies. is approach must

look across multiple technologies and across multiple end-use sectors, integrating technical feasibility with potential

environmental impacts (i.e., life cycle impacts of a particular energy source or technology). In addition, this approach

must consider energy consumer behavior – from businesses and institutions to private citizens – and policy feasibility

from local to global levels.

Recently, President Obama announced a new national fuel eﬃciency policy that requires an average fuel economy

standard of 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016. is policy would surpass the Corporate Average Fuel Economy law passed by

Congress in 2007 that required an average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020.

is should be accomplished in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

e Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. No: 110-140) requires an increase in the production of

renewable fuels from 4 billion gallons to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

An investment tax credit is important to enable the market for an emerging industry, and with the current ﬁnancial

situation, it is important that the issue of tax credit monetization also be addressed.

For example, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. No: 110-140) established the Energy Eﬃciency

and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program. is program provides training to veterans, unemployed individuals,

and workers impacted by energy and environmental policies.

ese eﬀorts should be coordinated with industry stakeholders and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

H-1B visas allow employers to hire foreigners with speciﬁc skills, as well as allow foreigners to receive graduate

degrees from American universities. e Board has expressed concern that “ready availability of outstanding science

and engineering talent from other countries is no longer assured,” due in part to constraints on employment of foreign

nationals in its 2003 report, e Science and Engineering Workforce: Realizing America’s Potential (NSB-03-69). Many

business leaders recommend that Congress raise the cap on H-1B visas.

e creation of a national, centralized, easily accessible Website to promote information on the life cycle impacts of

energy choices may have a tremendous impact.

is initiative focuses on preparing students for careers related to research and education on clean energy. NSF,

working with DOE, will leverage existing programs and partnerships to train scientists and technicians, educate K-12

and undergraduate students, and inform the public.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

I. Selected Summary Descriptions of Sustainable Energy Investment Areas

e following sections highlight a limited number of sustainable energy investment areas that may be

part of an RD3E strategy.

Advanced, Sustainable Nuclear Power

Nuclear power oﬀers the possibility of providing continuous and dependable base-load electricity

without the greenhouse gas emissions produced from fossil-fueled power plants. All commercial

nuclear power plants currently operating in the United States (and most nuclear power plants

operating worldwide) are light water reactors that use a “once-through” fuel cycle. Proposed

advanced (generation IV) nuclear power plants aim to incorporate a suite of new technologies that

will produce nuclear power in a manner that is sustainable, economical, reliable, and proliferation-

resistant.

Despite the potential advantages associated with reduced greenhouse gas emissions,

additional research, development, and analysis of advanced nuclear power are needed. Speciﬁcally,

further information and data are required to demonstrate the possibility of achieving enhanced

safety, proliferation resistance, economical cost, and appropriate waste storage solutions. Twelve

countries, including the United States, Russia, and China, as well as the European Atomic Energy

Community, have agreed on a framework for international cooperation in research for Generation

IV systems.

In the longer term, fusion energy systems may also oﬀer a sustainable path to nuclear

energy. Further research in enabling engineering aspects of fusion reactors, particularly with regards

to materials to withstand plasma and neutron bombardment is essential before viable, economic,

fusion reactors will be possible.

Alternative Vehicles and Transportation Technologies

Transportation plays a vital role in the U.S. economy, allowing for timely and aﬀordable movement

of goods, services, and people. e U.S. transportation sector ranks high in both energy

consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A number of existing and emerging technologies

can reduce energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and dependence on foreign oil in

the transportation sector. Technologies include hybrid and electric vehicles, smaller and more

eﬃcient cars, and advanced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. ere are also transportation infrastructure

improvements that can reduce energy usage. Examples include improved public transit, congestion

pricing, dedicated high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and urban planning that encourages walking and

biking. Transportation infrastructure improvements also address the relationship between land use

and greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Research Advisory Committee, and Generation IV International Forum. A

Technology Roadmap for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems: Ten Nations Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Energy Needs.

(December 2002).

For more information, see: http://www.gen-4.org/.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Basic Science and Engineering (S&E) Research

e objective of basic S&E research is to “gain more comprehensive knowledge or understanding of

the subject under study without speciﬁc applications in mind.”

Advances in basic S&E research are

critical in driving applied research and innovation in sustainable energy. For example, basic S&E

research may lead to the practical development of a carbon-neutral process for producing hydrogen

from sunlight and water

catalyzed by certain

microbes. e National Science Foundation is a leader in supporting basic S&E research across all

disciplines, and the agency has an important role in driving basic research that leads to sustainable

energy innovation. e U.S. Department of Energy’s Oﬃce of Science and its Energy Eﬃciency and

Renewable Energy oﬃce also support basic S&E research that will help build a sustainable energy

future.

Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

Behavioral and social sciences research builds knowledge of human behavior, human interactions,

social and economic systems, and organizations and institutions.

Research in these ﬁelds is

critical to understand the basis for human attitudes and actions toward sustainability, as well as

to understand methods for constructing appropriate incentives that align human behavior with a

sustainable energy future.

Behavioral and social sciences analyses are important components of life

cycle analyses and “systems” approaches to solving sustainability challenges.

Behavioral and social sciences research can be used to construct strategies to motivate appropriate

individual consumer action. Consumer behavior related to sustainable energy includes decisions

about driving and using public transit systems, buying and operating appliances, and energy

conservation actions (e.g., turning oﬀ the lights when leaving a room). Decisions related to energy

usage are a part of daily American life, and helping consumers make sustainable energy choices

is an integral part of achieving a sustainable energy future. Economic incentives and education

(both formal and informal) can inﬂuence consumer behavior; examples include real-time electricity

pricing, the use of “smart appliances,” and ad campaigns encouraging conservation. Speciﬁc areas of

behavioral and social sciences research that could help to illuminate inﬂuences on consumer behavior

National Science Board. Science and Engineering Indicators 2008. (Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation

(Volume 1, NSB 08-01; Volume 2, NSB 08-01A), 2008). Available online at:

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/c4/c4s.htm#c4sb1.

U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee. New Science for a Secure and Sustainable

Energy Future. (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, December 2008). Available online at:

http://www.sc.doe.gov/BES/reports/ﬁles/NSSSEF_rpt.pdf.

National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Social, Behavior, & Economic Sciences (SBE). About SBE.

(Arlington, VA: NSF). Available online at: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/about.jsp.

G.D. Brewer and P.C. Stern, eds. Decision Making for the Environment: Social and Behavioral Science Research

Priorities. (Washington, DC: e National Academies Press, 2005).

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

include consumer response to incentives and information, attitudes and social interactions regarding

energy, the eﬀect of social values on consumption, social organization of energy pricing, micro-

behavior in consumption environments, and macro-social patterning of consumption.

Carbon Capture, Sequestration, and Utilization

e process of carbon capture (CC), sequestration, and utilization involves the capture, long-term

storage, and/or utilization of carbon dioxide from energy systems, especially power generation

plants.

e captured carbon dioxide may be stored in locations such as deep saline aquifers

or depleted oil and gas reservoirs. By capturing a waste stream of carbon dioxide, transporting

and compressing the gas, and channeling the gas underground, CC technology has the potential

to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. However, the long-term

eﬀects of CC technologies and of storing carbon dioxide underground are unknown. Eﬀective

demonstration of CC includes overcoming technological, economic, and safety challenges associated

with eﬀective transport and storage of compressed carbon dioxide. Many regulatory hurdles and risk

management issues exist that must be considered prior to large-scale deployment of CC technology.

Despite these challenges, CC may be an important component of the technology solutions required

to achieve a sustainable energy future.

In addition to the permanent storage of carbon dioxide in geologic structures, carbon dioxide can

be utilized to produce chemical feedstocks, fuel, and raw materials. For example, carbon dioxide

can be reduced to formic acid, which has potential to power fuel cells for electricity generation and

automobiles. Ponds of genetically modiﬁed algae could also convert power-plant carbon dioxide

emissions into biodiesel. Bulk chemicals produced from carbon dioxide include urea to make

nitrogen fertilizers, salicylic acid as a pharmaceutical ingredient, and polycarbonate-based plastics.

Carbon dioxide is also used as a solvent – supercritical carbon dioxide oﬀers advantages in terms

of stereochemical control, product puriﬁcation, and environmental issues for synthesizing ﬁne

chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Economic Models and Assessments

Economic models and assessments for projecting environmental and economic eﬀects of sustainable

energy-related technologies and policies are important to arrive at a trans-disciplinary analysis

of complex policy issues. Policies that beneﬁt from the use of economic models and assessments

include taxing carbon dioxide, renewable energy production tax credits, cap and trade systems, and

renewable fuel standards. Some areas for improvement in economic assessments include reﬁning the

National Research Council, Committee on Behavioral and Social Aspects of Energy Consumption and Production,

Assembly of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Behavioral and Social Aspects of Energy Consumption and Production:

Preliminary Report. (Washington, DC: e National Academies Press, 1982). Available online at:

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10458.html.

L. Lutzenhiser. “Social and Behavioral Aspects of Energy Use,” Annual Review of Energy and Environment, 18(1993):

247-289.

National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. Social,

Behavioral, and Economic Research in the Federal Context. (Washington, DC: National Science and Technology Council,

January 2009). Available online at: http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/NSTC%20Reports/SBE%20in%20the%20Federal%20

Context.pdf.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. e Future of Coal: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study. (Cambridge, MA: MIT,

2007). Available online at: http://web.mit.edu/coal/.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

deﬁnition of underlying assumptions, simplifying model structures for faster computational times,

and ﬁnding better ways to deﬁne model parameters.

Improved economic models and assessments

could provide greater accessibility to policymakers.

Energy Eﬃciency

From a mechanistic perspective, increased energy eﬃciency means “energy inputs are reduced for

a given level of service, or there are increased or enhanced services for a given amount of energy

inputs.”

Increased energy eﬃciency may also refer to end-use energy conservation measures that

reduce total energy consumption. Increases in energy eﬃciency may lead to decreased energy costs

(for providers and consumers), as well as reduced levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Opportunities

exist for improving the eﬃciency of energy generation (e.g., converting fuels into energy with less

waste), transmission (e.g., transmitting electricity from power plant to load center with fewer losses),

and distribution (e.g., use by infrastructure, buildings, and transportation vehicles). Consumers

can reduce energy consumption and energy costs by making energy eﬃciency decisions such as

weatherizing their homes and using Energy Star® appliances.

Energy Storage

Inexpensive, eﬃcient, and safe methods for storing electrical energy are critical elements of a

sustainable energy economy. Electricity storage technologies include pumped hydropower, batteries,

and compressed air, which all convert electricity to potential energy and retrieve it when demand

for electricity is high. Research in thermal management will ensure a safe and reliable operating

temperature for energy storage devices such as batteries. Another research challenge is to increase the

number of life cycles for batteries. Emerging sustainable energy technologies that will beneﬁt from

advances in energy storage include fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicles, and plug-in electric vehicles.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle batteries provide a means of energy storage for the electric grid and

replace carbon-emitting internal combustion engines from many automobiles. Improvements in

energy storage will also facilitate the incorporation of intermittent sources such as wind and solar to

the electricity grid.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

e ICT sector is deﬁned as “a combination of manufacturing and services industries that capture,

transmit, and display data and information electronically.”

ough ICT services are critical to our

nation’s productivity and economic well-being, they are large contributors to global greenhouse gas

Bob Van der Zwaan. “Endogenous Learning in Climate-Energy-Economic Models: an Inventory of Key Uncertain-

ties,” International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2(1-2, 2004): 130-142. Available online at:

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/ﬁles/ijetpzwaan.pdf.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency. “Energy Eﬃciency: Deﬁnition.” Available online at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/eﬃciency/deﬁnition.htm.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Energy Storage: Research & Development.”

Available online at: http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/energystorage/research_development.html.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measuring the Information Economy. (Paris, France:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002). Available online at:

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/34/37/2771153.pdf.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

emissions.

e ICT sector can be made more eﬃcient by renovating old data centers with new

energy-eﬃcient equipment, moving data centers near renewable energy sources, and putting data

centers underground to utilize passive cooling potential. In addition to possible eﬃciency gains

within the ICT sector, the use of advanced ICT services (e.g., Smart Motor Systems, Smart Logistics,

Smart Buildings, and Smart Grids) has the potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon

dioxide emissions in power generation and other end use sectors by as much as 15 percent by 2020.

Renewable Energy Supply Technologies

e Energy Information Administration deﬁnes renewable energy as “energy sources that are

naturally replenishing but ﬂow limited.”

Such energy sources are virtually inexhaustible, but often

require advanced technologies to be eﬃciently captured and utilized. Renewable energy sources

include solar technologies, wind, geothermal, biomass, and traditional (dams) and non-traditional

(tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy) hydropower. Renewable energy technologies produce little

or no greenhouse gas emissions, but are often economically unattractive in the private sector and lack

market investment incentives than traditional fossil energy technologies. erefore, making R&D

investments and establishing market conditions will help to make renewable energy cost-competitive

with fossil fuels. e following summary descriptions are selected examples of renewable energy

sources and technologies.

Biomass•

Biomass is any plant-derived organic matter. Biomass available for sustainable energy

includes herbaceous and woody energy crops, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural

crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, and other waste materials

including some municipal wastes.

Biofuel is a liquid transportation fuel (e.g., ethanol

and biodiesel) that can be produced from biomass.

First generation feedstocks for biofuel

production include corn (for ethanol) and soybeans (for biodiesel).

Bioethanol and

biodiesel are commercially available, and researchers are focused on improving crop yields.

Second generation feedstocks include crop residues (e.g., corn stover), which are available

but will require breakthroughs in cellulosic conversion technology or subsidies to become

cost-competitive with corn ethanol and gasoline. Signiﬁcant R&D gains will be required to

commercialize biofuels from third generation feedstocks, which include algae and additional

cellulosic feedstocks such as perennial grasses.

e Climate Group and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative. Smart 2020: Enabling the Low Carbon Economy in the

Information Age. (London, United Kingdom: e Climate Group, 2008). Available online at:

http://www.theclimategroup.org/assets/resources/publications/Smart2020Report.pdf.

Ibid.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity

Preliminary 2006 Statistics. (Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration). Available online at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/prelim_trends/rea_prereport.html#_ftn20.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Glossary of Biomass Terms.” Available online

at: http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/glossary.html.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “FAQs on Biomass Basics.” Available online at:

http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/faqs/topic.cfm/topic_id=4.

Biomass Research and Development Board. National Biofuels Action Plan. (October 2008).

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Geothermal•

Geothermal energy utilizes heat beneath the earth’s surface. Geothermal reservoirs of hot

water and steam are used to spin turbine-generators to create electricity.

Accessing the very

high temperature rock located hundreds of meters below the surface of the earth to use as a

heat exchanger is a proposed second generation geothermal energy technology, but physical

drilling limitations pose a barrier to implementation.

Additionally, geothermal heat pumps

use the relatively constant earth temperature at very shallow depths as a thermal energy

source to heat buildings or as a thermal energy sink to cool buildings. ese heat pumps

provide an alternative to traditional home heating and air-conditioning systems.

Ocean ermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)•

OTEC technology takes advantage of the temperature diﬀerence between shallow and

deep ocean water to produce electricity. e scientiﬁc principles behind OTEC have

been demonstrated in prototypes, but the technology is not widely used.

Challenges

to commercialization include substantial upfront capital investment, as well as practical

implementation concerns (e.g., there are a limited number of sites where deep-ocean water is

located close enough to shore to utilize OTEC technology).

Solar •

Renewable solar energy technologies capture energy from the sun in the form of light or

heat, and use it for a variety of applications, such as electricity generation.

Photovoltaic

(PV) cells capture energy from sunlight and convert the energy directly into electricity. First

generation PV devices were made from silicon and were characterized by relatively high costs

and moderate eﬃciency.

Second generation PV devices are built to reduce production costs

by using thin ﬁlm semiconductor materials. Although these devices have lower eﬃciency,

they also have lower production costs. ird generation PV aims to combine lower cost

with higher eﬃciency. “Concentrating PV technologies” use lenses or mirrors to concentrate

sunlight onto high-eﬃciency solar cells; they are used in large-scale installations that require

large amounts of energy to be harnessed from devices covering a relatively small area. In

contrast to PV technologies that convert sunlight to electricity, solar thermal technologies

harness the heat energy from the sun to produce electricity. Concentrated solar thermal

power technologies use mirrors in a variety of geometries in order to concentrate sunlight

and transfer solar heat to be used in electricity generation. In addition to solar electricity

generation, solar heat can be utilized for building climate control, cooking, and heating hot

water.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Geothermal Technologies.” Available online

at: http://www.nrel.gov/geothermal/.

U.S. Department of Energy, Oﬃce of Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy. “Geothermal Technologies Program.”

Available online at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/geothermal_basics.html.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “OTEC.” Available at:

http://www.nrel.gov/otec.

U.S. Department of Energy, Oﬃce of Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy. “Energy Savers: Ocean ermal

Energy Conversion.” Available online at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/renewable_energy/ocean/index.cfm/

mytopic=50010.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Solar Research.” Available online at:

http://www.nrel.gov/solar/.

Martin A. Green. ird Generation Photovoltaics: Advanced Solar Energy Conversion. (New York, NY: Springer,

2003).

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

Tidal power•

Tidal power is generated by forcing water in tidal regions through turbines to generate

electricity, typically through the use of a barrage or dam.

Tidal power generation is not

widespread because of high capital costs and site diﬃculties, but there is potential for using

this technology in the United States.

Traditional hydropower•

Hydroelectric power plants convert the kinetic energy of ﬂowing water to electricity by

running the water through a turbine-generator.

Several types of hydropower plants exist;

some simply divert running river water into a channel where the water ﬂows through a

turbine, while others use dams to store river water in a reservoir. Water stored in reservoirs

can be released to ﬂow over turbines and generate electricity when demand for electricity is

high. Research and development in hydropower is required to improve energy eﬃciency, as

well as to minimize the environmental impacts of the dams used in some hydroelectric power

plants.

Wave power•

ere are multiple technological approaches to capturing the energy at or below the surface

of ocean waves and converting it into electricity. e ﬁrst commercial wave power plant

(which opened in Portugal in 2008) uses the attenuation method of running a hydraulic

motor by using the wave to create pressure diﬀerentials between sections.

ough wave

power cannot be harnessed in all coastal areas, the Paciﬁc Northwest is one region in the

United States where the potential does exist. Upfront capital costs of building wave power

plants are a signiﬁcant barrier to making wave energy cost-competitive with other energy

sources.

Wind•

e kinetic energy in wind can be harnessed and converted by wind turbines into mechanical

power or electricity. Wind turbines can operate independently or can be connected to a

utility power grid. Utility-scale wind energy generation requires a large number of wind

turbines built close together to form a wind plant. Small wind systems can be used as

distributed energy resources. Current research in wind technology involves working toward

improved eﬃciency and materials for utility-scale wind turbines and smaller turbines used

for distributed power generation.

Additional research and development is vital to assess

resource-rich locations for new energy facilities, prediction of their intermittent weather-

sensitive output at a variety of time scales, storage of their produced power, and transmission

to regions of high demand.

U.S. Department of Energy, Oﬃce of Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy. “Energy Savers: Ocean Tidal Power.”

Available online at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/renewable_energy/ocean/index.cfm/mytopic=50008.

U.S. Department of Energy, Oﬃce of Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy. “Wind and Hydropower

Technologies Program: Types of Hydropower Plants.” Available online at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

hydro_plant_types.html.

Pelamis Wave Power Website. For more information, see: http://www.pelamiswave.com/.

U.S. Department of Energy, Oﬃce of Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy. “Energy Savers: Ocean Wave Power.”

Available online at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/renewable_energy/ocean/index.cfm/mytopic=50009.

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Wind Research.” For more information, see:

http://www.nrel.gov/wind/.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Smart Grid

A “Smart Grid” encompasses a system of technologies designed to make the electricity grid more

eﬃcient, reliable, and capable. Updating and improving the current antiquated electric grid involves

many challenges because its critical infrastructure is deteriorating and is unable to handle increased

electricity load to accommodate projected increases in U.S. energy demand. Failure to adequately

address these challenges by developing an advanced Smart Grid could lead to severe economic

disturbance from increasing interruption of electricity distribution and vulnerability from threats

and natural disasters. Smart Grid technologies aim to reduce operating costs for both utilities and

consumers by easing congestion and increasing capacity utilization through transmission corridors

to accommodate the demand for electricity. In addition, Smart Grid technologies reduce the

environmental impact of electricity production by reducing load during peak demand as well as

making it easier to integrate clean energy sources into the grid. Aspects of a Smart Grid include:

Integration of digital, control, and cyber-security technologies that allow the grid to perform •

more reliably and securely;

Utilization of advanced storage technologies, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, to •

mitigate peak load and integrate intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar; and

Deployment of intelligent appliances in homes and oﬃces, as well as smart meters that can •

communicate price signals and demand response from the power provider to consumers.

Achieving these measures will require new communication standards for appliances and grid-

connected equipment, as well as the removal of barriers to adopt Smart Grid technologies and

protocols.

Various technological components and protocols required to achieve a Smart Grid are

currently under development in the public and private sectors. Technological areas requiring further

development include sensing and measurement technologies, communication technologies, and

energy storage.

Systems Approach to Sustainability Solutions

A systems approach to sustainability involves interdisciplinary work among technologists,

behavioral scientists, regulatory experts, and policy analysts in addition to the development of life

cycle assessment tools, in order to understand the full environmental impact of sustainable energy

solutions. Investment in systems approaches and life cycle assessment tools will allow government

and industry to consider economic, environmental and social costs of sustainable energy solutions

in order to optimize their utilization. ese approaches and analyses will ultimately help decision

makers sift through conﬂicting beneﬁts and consequences of sustainable energy technologies.

For example, compact ﬂuorescent light bulbs use less energy than incandescent light bulbs, but

they also contain toxic chemicals (e.g., mercury), making disposal hazardous for humans and the

environment. A systems approach would include incorporating environmental considerations into

product design. Beyond evaluating speciﬁc sustainable energy technologies, using systems

approaches would also beneﬁt residential and commercial developments: investing in energy

eﬃciency during the construction phase reduces energy costs throughout the operational life of

buildings and infrastructure.

U.S. Congress. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, 110

Congress, 2

session, P.L. 110-140. For more

information, see: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/EISA_Title_XIII_Smart_Grid.pdf.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

Zero-Energy Buildings

Buildings currently consume about one-third of the world’s energy and account for 40 percent of

primary energy use in the United States.

Projections indicate that buildings will be the primary

consumer of energy worldwide by as early as 2025.

Most of the energy consumed in buildings

is delivered in the form of electricity, which incurs heavy eﬃciency losses during generation and

transmission. Support for zero-energy buildings can therefore have a substantial impact on global

energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

e term “net-zero energy” represents a vision for buildings that independently produce and fulﬁll

their energy requirements, while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Zero-energy buildings utilize

highly eﬃcient appliances; lighting; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and

advanced building materials. Zero-energy buildings also incorporate options such as daylighting

(i.e., strategic placement of windows in order to maximize the use of natural sunlight as lighting),

and evaporative cooling and passive ventilation. In addition, they minimize energy losses by

generating electricity on-site using renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic, solar hot water,

and wind energy.

Many of the technologies needed to implement zero-energy buildings are currently available.

However, because of the long average lifespan of a commercial building, major renovations are

often needed to implement energy saving changes. Currently, NSF, the National Institute for

Standards and Technology, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Smithsonian Institution are

all funding RD3E activities related to zero-energy buildings. One critical focus area is developing

measurement science to enable the development of zero-energy buildings. In addition, there is

a range of Federal deployment programs executed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the

Department of Energy, and other Federal agencies. e private sector, consumers, and Federal and

state governments can all implement zero-energy building technologies to increase energy eﬃciency

and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Oﬃce of Science and Technology Policy, National Science and Technology Council. Federal Research and Development

Agenda for Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings. (Washington, DC: Oﬃce of Science and Technology

Policy, 2008).

Ibid.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

II. Current State of U.S. Energy Supply and Consumption

In 2007, the United States consumed energy through four end-use sectors: residential, commercial,

industrial, and transportation.

e Energy Information Agency (EIA) records data for primary

energy consumption in those four sectors, but separates energy consumed as electricity in a ﬁfth

sector. Total energy consumption, sources of energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions for

all ﬁve sectors are described in this section.

U.S. energy consumption varies by economic sector and by energy source. About one-third of

energy delivered in the United States is consumed by the industrial sector, and one-half of that is

consumed by three industries (bulk chemicals, petroleum reﬁning, and paper products).

e

transportation sector accounts for the second-highest share of total end-use consumption at 29

percent, followed by the residential sector at 21 percent and the commercial sector at 18 percent

(Figure 1).

Figure 2 depicts primary consumption of energy by end-use sector and separately

categorizes energy used in electricity production, transmission, and distribution. Electricity provides

the greatest proportion of energy consumed in the United States, and the transportation sector

accounts for the next largest share of U.S. energy consumption. Figure 3 depicts energy-related

carbon dioxide emissions by end-use sector. Transportation is the largest contributor to total U.S.

carbon dioxide emissions followed by the industrial, residential, and commercial sectors, respectively.

Across all sectors, petroleum is the largest primary energy source at around 40 percent of total U.S.

energy consumption. Other energy sources include natural gas (23 percent), coal (22 percent),

nuclear electric power (8 percent), and renewable energy (7 percent), according to 2007 data.

e

transportation sector has historically consumed the most petroleum, with its petroleum consumption

dramatically increasing over the past few decades. In 2007, petroleum accounted for 95 percent of

the transportation sector’s energy consumption.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Energy Consumption by Sector, 1949-2007,”

Table 2.1a in Annual Energy Review 2007. (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/

EIA-0384(2007). (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

Ibid.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

Figure 1. Total U.S. Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector, 2007

Total U.S. Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector, 2007

Res i denti al

21%

Commerci a l

18%

Tra ns porta ti on

29%

Industrial

32%

Source: EIA. Annual Energy Review 2007. Table 2.1a, “Energy Consumption by Sector, 1949-2007.”

Figure 2. Primary U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 2007

Primary U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 2007

Res i denti a l

Commerci a l

Industrial

21%

Tra ns porta ti on

29%

Electricity

39%

Source: EIA. Annual Energy Review 2007. Table 2.1a, “Energy Consumption by Sector, 1949-2007.”

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Figure 3. U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions by End-Use Sector, 2007

U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector, 2007

Res i denti al

21%

Commerci a l

18%

Tra ns porta ti on

34%

Industrial

27%

Source: EIA. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report. Table 6, “U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by

End-Use Sector, 1990-2007.”

U.S. Industrial Sector

e U.S. industrial sector includes manufacturing enterprises such as producers of bulk chemicals,

reﬁneries, paper products, primary metals, food, glass, and cement. Collectively, these energy-

intensive manufacturing industries produce about one-ﬁfth of the dollar value of industrial

shipments, while accounting for more than two-thirds of delivered energy consumption.

e

industrial sector also includes three non-manufacturing categories: agriculture, mining, and

construction. Energy is mainly consumed through industrial processes, assembly lines, and building

operations. e industrial sector generates most of its own power produced through methods that

utilize boilers, steam, and cogeneration.

Most energy sources in the industrial sector come from

fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, and coal). Fossil fuels are responsible for nearly all of carbon

dioxide emissions from this sector.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Review 2007. (Washington, DC:

U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Industrial Sector Demand Module.”

Available online at: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/FTPROOT/modeldoc/m064(2001).pdf.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

Because of the high energy intensity of many industrial subsectors, inexpensive fuels are a priority

for this sector. Non-intermittent renewable sources, such as biomass, geothermal, and hydro, could

be introduced in greater shares if prices were competitive with fossil fuels and in cases in which those

resources are located in close geographic proximity to industrial sites. Increasing consumption of

non-intermittent renewable sources would directly displace fossil fuel consumption.

U.S. Transportation Sector

e U.S. transportation sector includes all modes of transportation (i.e., automotive vehicles, rail,

marine vessels, aircraft, and mass transit). Transportation is an important component in military

and freight operations, as well as personal and commercial travel.

Petroleum is the primary source

of energy and carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation sector—it supplies 96 percent of the

energy consumed and accounts for 98 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the

sector. e remaining 4 percent of energy consumed in the transportation sector is supplied by

natural gas and biomass.

Currently, vehicles and associated infrastructure in the United States are designed for a petroleum-

based transportation sector. e United States imported 65 percent of the crude oil and petroleum

products it used in 2007, mainly from Canada (18 percent of imports), Saudi Arabia (11 percent),

Mexico (11 percent), Venezuela (10 percent), and Nigeria (8 percent).

e United States could

signiﬁcantly reduce its dependence on imported oil by increasing its use of domestically produced

electricity to fuel the transportation sector. Shifting to electricity as the main transportation

fuel would aﬀect carbon dioxide emissions, but more research is needed to determine its speciﬁc

eﬀects. Biofuels, speciﬁcally corn and cellulosic ethanol, are expected to achieve increased market

penetration as the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard

is implemented. Corporate Average Fuel

Economy

standards will reduce the carbon intensity of the transportation sector by increasing the

eﬃciency of cars and light-duty trucks.

U.S. Residential Sector

e U.S. residential sector includes single- and multi-family homes and mobile homes. Energy

in this sector is consumed for heating, cooling, refrigeration, lighting, and powering electric

appliances.

Fossil fuels supply the majority of energy in the residential sector, with domestic coal

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Transportation Sector Demand Module.”

Available online at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/models2002/tran.html.

Data extrapolated from the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Petroleum Navigator.

Available online at: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_cons_psup_dc_nus_mbbl_a.htm and

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm.

As legislated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the EPA will increase the volume of renewable

fuels in the nation’s motor fuel supply from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. For more

information, see: http://www.epa.gov/OMS/renewablefuels/.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, ﬁrst implemented in 1975 was updated in 2007 with the Energy Inde-

pendence and Security Act to raise the average fuel economy of vehicle ﬂeets to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Recently,

President Obama announced a new national fuel eﬃciency policy that requires an average fuel economy standard of 35.5

miles per gallon in 2016. is policy would surpass the 2007 law passed by Congress.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Residential Sector Demand Module.” Available

online at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/models2002/rsdm.html.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

sources converted into electricity accounting for an additional 36 percent.

For every unit of energy

delivered to the residential sector in the form of electricity, over two units of energy are lost as waste

heat in electric power generation and transmission.

Natural gas provides over 20 percent of the

primary energy used in this sector, while less than ﬁve percent of residential primary energy comes

from sustainable sources, (largely biomass, followed by solar and geothermal). Carbon dioxide

emissions from the residential sector correlate closely with its energy consumption percentages: 72

percent of residential carbon dioxide emissions result from electrical power generation, transmission,

and end-use. Natural gas and petroleum used in home heating and cooking contribute 21 percent

and 7 percent, respectively, to residential carbon dioxide emissions.

e residential sector can increase its on-site consumption of renewable energy by using solar

heating, solar photovoltaic, and geothermal (ground source) heat pumps. Solar photovoltaic roof

panels produce electricity that can be utilized on-site and, in some cases, sold back to the electricity

grid if production exceeds demand. Ground source heat pumps circulate a working ﬂuid through

pipes buried underground at very shallow depths to utilize the relatively constant temperature as

a thermal energy source to heat buildings or as a thermal energy sink to cool buildings, displacing

some of the need for electricity and for natural gas or other fuels.

U.S. Commercial Sector

e U.S. commercial sector consists of retail and service buildings (e.g., for food, healthcare,

lodging, and business services), warehouses, assembly buildings, and educational facilities. Energy is

consumed by these buildings and facilities for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and powering

oﬃce equipment.

e commercial sector consumes nearly 80 percent of its energy in the form of

electricity and associated electrical system losses. Natural gas provides about 17 percent of energy to

this sector.

Biomass, hydropower, and geothermal sources provide a small amount of sustainable

energy for the commercial sector. Most carbon dioxide emissions in the commercial sector are due

to using fossil fuel sources to generate electricity and its extensive associated losses. In 2007, the

commercial sector accounted for 18 percent of total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Approximately

21 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the commercial sector are attributable to electric power

generation, transmission, and end-use consumption.

e commercial sector is similar to the residential sector in that consumption of renewable

energy can be increased by using on-site technologies such as roof-based solar water heating, solar

photovoltaic panels on roofs, and geothermal ground source heat pumps.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/

EIA-0384(2007). (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

Power generation involves the combustion of fossil fuels to generate heat, which is then used to boil water and create

steam. e steam powers a turbine connected to a generator, which produces electricity. At each stage of the process,

some heat is lost to the environment, therefore reducing the eﬃciency of the operation. Similarly, heat losses occur as

a result of resistance in power transmission lines. If these electrical system losses are included, about 70 percent of total

energy consumption for the residential sector is attributable to electricity generation, transmission, and end-use.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Commercial Sector Demand Module.” Available

online at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/models2002/csdm.html.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Natural Gas Consumption by End Use.” Available

online at: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_cons_sum_dcu_nus_a.htm.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

U.S. Electric Power Sector

e U.S. electric power sector is made up of electric utilities and independent power producers.

e electric power sector generates and delivers electricity and useful heat (in the case of combined

heat and power plants) to all other economic sectors. ree energy sources account for almost 90

percent of energy consumption in the U.S. electric power sector: coal accounts for 51 percent of

energy consumed in the electric power sector, nuclear power accounts for 21 percent (of which 91

percent of uranium used comes from foreign sources

), and natural gas accounts for 17 percent.

Coal accounts for 81 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the electric power sector, and natural gas

accounts for 16 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.

Electric power contributes to every end-use sector of the economy. Higher capacity and improved

transmission lines, electricity storage capacity, and Smart Grid

implementation could help to

integrate more sustainable energy into the electric power sector. Undertaking action only to

increase sustainable energy in the electricity sector may not reduce total carbon dioxide emissions

or dependence on foreign energy suppliers, due to expected increases in demand and the high

proportion of domestically produced energy sources already powering this sector.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Total Electric Power Summary Statistics.” Avail-

able online at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/tablees1a.html.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. “Uranium Purchased by Owners and Operators of

U.S. Civilian Nuclear Power Reactors.” Available online at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/umar/summarytable1.html.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency. Annual Energy Review 2007, DOE/EIA-0384(2007).

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

“Smart Grid” encompasses a system of technologies designed to make the electricity grid more eﬃcient, reliable, and

capable. For more information, see: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/EISA_Title_XIII_Smart_Grid.pdf.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

III. U.S. Legislative Timeline: Key Policy Actions Related to Sustainable Energy

Year U.S. Policy Actions Related to Sustainable Energy

1946

President Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act (McMahon Act), transferring control of

atomic energy activities from the military to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), a

civilian agency. e transfer took eﬀect in 1947.

1950

President Truman signs the National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950, authorizing

the creation of the new Federal agency and the National Science Board (NSB).

1951

e Experimental Breeder Reactor - 1 (near Arco, Idaho) produces the ﬁrst electric power

from a nuclear reactor.

1954

President Eisenhower signs the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, providing a foundation for the

development of a civilian nuclear power program.

1956

e AEC authorizes the construction of world’s ﬁrst two privately owned nuclear power

plants.

1957

e Shippingport Atomic Power Station (located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania), the

world’s ﬁrst full-scale nuclear power plant, becomes operational.

1958

GE produces the ﬁrst commercially successful fuel cell, used by NASA in the Gemini

program.

1960

First large-scale geothermal power plant in United States begins operation at e Geysers

(located in the Mayacamas Mountains, north of San Francisco, California).

1968

President Johnson signs the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which restricts dam building and

hydropower along designated segments of some U.S. rivers.

1970

President Nixon signs the National Environmental Policy Act, requiring Federal agencies to

integrate environmental values into their decision-making processes

1970

President Nixon signs the Clean Air Act, deﬁning EPA’s responsibilities for protecting and

improving the nation’s air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer.

1970

President Nixon signs the Geothermal Steam Act, which governs lease of geothermal steam

resources on public lands.

1972

e Atomic Energy Commission announces a cooperative agreement with industry to

build a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor on the Clinch River in Tennessee. (e Clinch

River Breeder Reactor project is later discontinued in 1983.)

1973

e Yom Kippur War spurs the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

to raise oil prices by 70 percent and impose an embargo on the United States. e

embargo was lifted later that year.

1973

President Nixon establishes the Energy Policy Oﬃce (renamed the Federal Energy Oﬃce in

1973). e oﬃce is assigned the tasks of allocating reduced petroleum supplies to reﬁners

and consumers and of controlling the price of oil and gasoline.

1974

President Nixon signs the Federal Administration Act of 1974, creating the Federal Energy

Administration to replace the Federal Energy Oﬃce.

Information in this table is drawn from various sources including historical timelines generated by the National

Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. Available online at:

http://www.nsf.gov/about/history/overview-50.jsp and http://www.energy.gov/about/timeline.htm.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

1974

President Ford signs the Energy Reorganization Act, which splits the AEC into the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Energy Research and Development

Administration (ERDA). e NRC is charged with regulating the nuclear power industry,

and the ERDA is given responsibility for management of nuclear weapons and energy

development programs.

1974

President Ford initiates the Energy Resources Council, which is charged with insuring

“communication and coordination among the agencies of the Federal Government which

have responsibilities for the development and implementation of energy policy or for the

management of energy resources.”

1974

President Ford signs the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act,

which establishes the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado.

1974

e Hydrogen Economy Miami Energy (THEME) Conference, the ﬁrst international

conference on hydrogen-based energy, is held in Miami Beach, Florida.

1975

President Ford signs the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which establishes Corporate

Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

1975

e U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) releases the ﬁrst national estimate and inventory of

geothermal resources.

1976

Congress enacts the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and

Demonstration Act, despite veto by President Ford. e Act enables ERDA to address

research and development (R&D) issues in energy storage, vehicle control systems, vehicle

design, etc.

1977

President Carter signs the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act, replacing

ERDA with the DOE. is Act also establishes the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission (FERC).

1977

President Carter issues Executive Order 12003, which orders energy audits and new

standards for energy conservation in Federal facilities and ﬂeets.

1977

President Carter signs the Food and Agricultural Act, which authorizes the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) to guarantee loans for biomass-ﬁred power plants and

provides funding for renewable energy.

1977

President Carter installs solar panels on the White House.

the panels.

President Reagan later removes

1977

Congress abolishes the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, which was established to

oversee activities of the AEC.

1977

e ﬁrst hot dry rock reservoir is developed in Fenton Hill, New Mexico to mine

geothermal energy.

1977 e Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado becomes operational.

1978

President Carter signs the National Energy Act, which includes the National Energy

Conservation Policy Act, the Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, the Public Utilities

Regulatory Policy Act, the Energy Tax Act, and the Natural Gas Policy Act.

1978

President Carter issues Executive Order 12038 to supplement the DOE Organization Act

by transferring functions to the newly created position of Secretary of Energy.

1978

President Carter signs the United States Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA),

which creates a market for independent power producers.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

1978 President Carter signs the Energy Tax Act, which creates Federal ethanol tax incentives.

1979 NASA completes the world’s ﬁrst village photovoltaic (PV) system in Schuchuli, Arizona.

1979

President Carter signs the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, which provides

funding for alternative fuels and alternative fuel power plants.

1980

A solar cell power plant demonstration is dedicated at Natural Bridges National

Monument in Utah. e project is a result of collaboration between the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology (MIT), DOE, and National Park Service (NPS).

1980

President Carter signs the Supplemental Appropriation and Rescission Act, which provides

funding for ethanol feasibility studies.

1980

President Carter signs the Crude Oil Windfall Tax Act, which intends to recover revenues

earned by oil producers after the sharp rise in oil prices resulting from the OPEC oil

embargo.

1980

President Carter signs the Energy Security Act, including the U.S. Synthetic Fuels

Corporation Act, Biomass Energy and Alcohol Fuels Act, Renewable Energy Resources

Act, Solar Energy and Energy Conservation Act and Solar Energy and Energy

Conservation Bank Act, Geothermal Energy Act, and Ocean ermal Energy Conversion

Act.

1981

President Reagan signs Executive Order 12287, which provides for the decontrol of crude

oil and reﬁned petroleum products.

1981

President Reagan signs the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the Nation’s ﬁrst

comprehensive nuclear waste legislation. e act provides for the development

of repositories for disposing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and

establishes a program of research, development, and demonstration with respect to waste

disposal.

1983

President Reagan signs the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, which raises the gasoline

excise tax to 9 cents per gallon and increases the tax ex

emption for gasohol to 5 cents per

gallon.

1983

DOE establishes an Oﬃce of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, which is charged

with safely managing and disposing of the Nation’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level

radioactive waste.

1984

e Federal Advisory Act establishes the National Coal Council (NCC) as a private,

nonproﬁt advisory body chartered by the U.S. Secretary of Energy. e NCC’s mission is

to advise both government and industry on ways to improve cooperation in areas of coal

research, production, transportation, marketing, and use.

1984

President Reagan signs the Tax Reform Act as part of the Deﬁcit Reduction Act of 1984;

the Act raises the level of the gasohol tax exemption.

1987

e United Nations (UN) World Commission on Environment and Development

publishes the Brundtland Report (Our Common Future), deﬁning the concept of

sustainable development.

1987

President Reagan signs the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, which

establishes Federal minimum eﬃciency standards for many household appliances.

1987

Congress amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, designating Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as

the only site to be considered as a high-level nuclear waste repository.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

1990

President George H.W. Bush signs into law the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act,

which decreases the gasohol tax exemption.

1990

President George H.W. Bush signs into law the Clean Air Act Amendments, which contain

regulatory provisions to address acid rain, urban air emissions, and toxic air pollutants.

1990

President George H.W. Bush signs into law the U.S. Global Change Research Act, creating

a U.S. Global Change Research Program that is “aimed at understanding and responding

to global change, including the cumulative eﬀects of human activities and natural processes

on the environment, to promote discussions toward international protocols in global

change research, and for other purposes.”

1991

President George H.W. Bush issues Executive Order 12759, which mandates energy

conservation at Federal facilities.

1991

e Solar Energy Research Institute is renamed the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory.

1992

e UN Conference on Environment and Development (also known as e Earth

Summit) is held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. e conference results in the establishment

of e United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an

international environmental treaty.

1992

President George H.W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which addresses a

variety of issues including energy eﬃciency, alternative fuels, and storage of radioactive

waste material.

1993

President Clinton releases a Climate Change Action Plan, which states the United States

will stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000.

1993

President Clinton issues Executive Order 12844, which authorizes Federal acquisition and

use of alternative fueled vehicles.

1993

President Clinton issues Executive Order 12845, which requires agencies to purchase

energy-eﬃcient computer equipment.

1994

President Clinton issues Executive Order 12902, which requires all Federal agencies to

develop and implement 30 percent energy use reduction plans and to increase use of solar

and alternative sources.

1994

A favorable Internal Revenue Service ruling extends the excise tax exemption and income

tax credits to ethanol blenders producing the fuel oxygenate ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

1994

EPA enacts a Renewable Oxygen Standard (ROS) that requires that 30 percent of the

oxygenates contained in fuels be produced from renewable sources. A year later, a U.S.

court rules that the EPA’s ROS was an unconstitutional constraint on commerce.

1996

DOE announces the creation of the National Center for Photovoltaics, combining research

eﬀorts at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National

Laboratories.

1998

DOE announces the award of a contract that will result in the world’s ﬁrst high

temperature superconductor power cable, which will deliver electricity in a utility network

owned by Detroit Edison.

1999

DOE and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) launch the Green Energy Parks

Program, designed to increase the use of sustainable energy technology in the nation’s

parks.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

1999

President Clinton issues Executive Order 13123, which sets new goals for Federal energy

management.

1999

President Clinton issues Executive Order 13134, which establishes an Interagency Council

on Biobased Pr

oducts and Bioenergy.

1999

e United States withdraws from the International ermonuclear Experimental Reactor

after Congress eliminates funding for participation in the pr

oject.

2000

President Clinton signs the Biomass Research and Development Act, which establishes a

Biomass R&D Board to coor

dinate Federal activities related to biobased fuels and biobased

products. e Board is co-chaired by DOE and USDA.

2000

President Clinton introduces the Climate Change Technology Initiative to develop

renewable energy r

esources and eﬃcient technologies.

2000

DOE and the American Institute Of Architects announce a national design competition

for the largest solar energy system on a U.S. Gov

ernment building.

2000

e global theme for Earth Day 2000 is “Clean Energy Now.” Power for the event on the

National Mall in

Washington, DC is provided entirely by renewable energy sources.

2001

e United States and the European Union (EU) sign agreements to conduct joint research

in the areas of fusion energy and non-nuclear energy.

2001

resident George W. Bush announces the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) and

the National Climate Change T

echnology Initiative.

2001 e United States withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol.

2001

e United States and France sign an agreement to jointly fund research in advanced

reactors and fuel cycle dev

elopment.

2001

Governments of leading nuclear nations sign formal charter that established the

Generation IV International F

orum dedicated to the development by 2030 of the next

generation of nuclear reactor and fuel cycle technologies.

2002

DOE, in partnership with the automobile industry, announces the FreedomCar Initiative

to develop hydr

ogen cars.

2002

President George W. Bush signs an economic stimulus bill that includes tax credits for

power generators using r

enewable sources and consumer purchasing of electric vehicles.

2002

e Generation IV International Forum agrees on six nuclear energy systems to be pursued

for joint development.

2003

esident George W. Bush announces the Climate VISION program to reduce greenhouse

gas emissions.

2003

President George W. Bush announces FutureGen, a $1 billion initiative to build a near-

zero atmospheric emissions coal ﬁr

ed power plant using carbon capture and sequestration

and other advanced technologies. e FutureGen mission is restructured in 2008.

2005 e Asia-Paciﬁc Energy Initiative is announced as a response to the Kyoto Protocol.

2005

President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which includes tax

incentives for energy production and pr

ocurement guidelines for energy-eﬃcient products

by Federal agencies.

2006

President George W. Bush announces the Advanced Energy Initiative, which includes

research in alternativ

e energy, nuclear energy, hybrid and electric cars.

Appendix A: History and Context of Sustainable Energy

2006

Secretary of Energy Bodman announces the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, designed

to promote safe use of nuclear power worldwide and to close the nuclear fuel cycle.

2007

President George W. Bush issues Executive Order 13423, which orders the reduction of

Federal energy facility use by 3 percent per year through 2015.

2007

e G8+5 countries agree on the Washington Declaration, the outline of a successor to the

Kyoto Protocol.

2007

President George W. Bush signs the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which

orders reductions in Federal energy use.

2008

DOE restructures the FutureGen mission due to escalating costs, and changes its approach

to fund multiple commercial clean coal projects.

2008

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Singh grant ﬁnal approval to a U.S.-India

civilian nuclear deal. e agreement creates a strategic partnership between the United

States and India with respect to nuclear cooperation and prohibits India from reprocessing

nuclear fuel.

2008

President George W. Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which

contains tax incentives for energy eﬃcient homes and commercial buildings, as well as an

extension of wind and solar investment and production tax credits.

2008

Secretary of Energy Bodman and Secretary of Agriculture Schafer release the National

Biofuels Action Plan developed by the Biomass Research and Development Board.

2009

President Obama signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes

funding for energy eﬃciency and renewable energy programs and research throughout the

Federal government.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Appendix B: Charge to the Task Force on Sustainable Energy

NSB-07-121

October 3, 2007

Statutory Basis

“e Board shall render to the President and to the Congress reports on speciﬁc, individual policy

matters related to science and engineering and education in science engineering, as the Board, the

President, or the Congress determines the need for such reports.” (42 U.S.C. Section 1863) SEC. 4.

(j) (2)

Action Recommended

e National Science Board (Board) will examine the role of the U.S. Government in addressing the

science and engineering (S&E) challenges related to development of sustainable energy, and provide

recommendations to the President and Congress regarding a nationally coordinated S&E research

and education initiative on sustainable energy with speciﬁc guidance on the role of the National

Science Foundation (NSF) in such an initiative.

Background

e interest of the National Science Board in sustainable energy was encouraged by President

George W. Bush’s national call to action on energy with the announcement of the Advanced Energy

Initiative in his January 31, 2006 State of the Union Address. e rapidly expanding literature

warns of a number of threats from our Nation’s and the World’s reliance on fossil energy sources.

ese include:

the economic and societal impacts of a rapidly growing global demand for energy and the •

increasing costs, both economic and environmental, of fossil fuel as the more easily accessible

sources are depleted,

the threat to national security and balance of trade as the U.S. and other countries, especially •

emerging economies, become increasingly dependent on a relatively few, often politically

unstable, oil exporting nations, and

the often cited threat of anthropogenic carbon loading in the atmosphere and its eﬀects on •

the global climate and on human life.

ese threats have given rise to a global call to move rapidly to a sustainable energy economy.

However, most projections of trends for the next quarter to half century suggest little change in the

future global energy mix without more concerted action. It is of concern that the scale and speed

of the adoption of sustainable and clean energy technologies will be far short of that necessary to

address the threats that will only become more acute with the passage of time. Of particular concern

is the heavy dependence on fossil fuels for the transport sector and the carbon footprint that current

and projected energy use represents.

Given the Board’s responsibility to advise the President and Congress on national policy matters

relating to science and engineering, the Board arranged for three expert presentations on the

scientiﬁc challenges related to the development of sustainable energy:

Energy from Biomass• , Chris Somerville, Professor of Biological Sciences, Stanford University,

September, 2006;

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Scientiﬁc Challenges in the Development of Sustainable Energy• , Nathan S. Lewis, Professor of

Chemistry at Caltech, November, 2006; and

Transformational Science for Energy and the Environment• , Raymond L. Orbach, Under

Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy, March, 2007.

e Board is also mindful of President Bush’s challenge to the nation in his 2007 State of the Union

Address: “America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less

dependent on oil. And, these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will

help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.”

ese presentations and the President’s challenge energized the Board regarding the immediacy of

the need to develop sustainable energy sources that would lessen the dependence on increasingly

diﬃcult to access fossil fuels and decrease the rate of atmospheric carbon loading Given the vital

strategic importance of energy use in carrying out the missions of most government agencies, the

Board believes it to be an imperative for the long-term prosperity of this Nation for the government

to develop a long-term, coordinated, inter-agency strategy to achieve a stable sustainable U.S.

energy future. Such an approach will require that the attributes of a sustainable energy economy be

deﬁned and that all technology options be weighed and evaluated against their ability to meet these

attributes. Further, this would need to be done in a global context. e Board is uniquely suited to

make recommendations regarding the S&E research and education challenges in developing such a

nationally coordinated strategy, with speciﬁc guidance to NSF on its role in this eﬀort. e Board’s

Committee on Programs and Plans (CPP) should establish a formal Task Force on Sustainable

Energy to lead this Board eﬀort.

Policy Objectives

e following issues will be analyzed and discussed by the Task Force before constructive policy

recommendations and a proposed strategy is recommended to CPP and the full Board consistent

with the Board’s statutory charge.

Examine existing S&E sustainable energy research and education policies and eﬀorts at the •

NSF, the Federal Government and U.S. corporations, and around the world in scope, scale,

time frame, and in the context of national and global challenges.

Develop recommendations for the Board to consider with respect to a nationally coordinated •

S&E research and education initiative on sustainable energy.

Provide explicit guidance on NSF’s role with respect to basic research and education in the •

overall national eﬀort.

Based upon the work of this Task Force, the Board will then provide policy guidance to NSF, and

broader recommendations to the Administration and Congress relative to a long-term coordinated

inter-agency strategy for the development of sustainable U.S. energy production in light of President

Bush’s challenge to be better stewards of the environment.

Logistics

Once the Task Force has completed its initial analysis of existing policies and eﬀorts, the Task Force

will bring together representatives of NSF, academe, private sector industry and investors, NGOs,

and other pertinent U.S. Federal agencies involved in energy, as well as members of the broader

scientiﬁc community, through a series of workshops to examine, discuss and address the issues

identiﬁed above. e Task Force will have the ability to convene such working groups as it deems

Appendix B: Charge to the Task Force on Sustainable Energy

necessary to obtain additional relevant information as well as to frame recommended strategies. It is

anticipated that the Task Force will produce a ﬁnal report that summarizes its ﬁndings and presents

recommendations regarding the role of the U.S. Government in addressing S&E challenges related

to development of sustainable energy, with speciﬁc recommendations for the NSF role in a national

S&E research and education initiative on sustainable energy. Printed copies of a ﬁnal Board report

will be widely distributed and available on the Board Web site for the general public, universities,

Congress, various special interest groups, and the broad scientiﬁc community. In addition, a

regular and pro-active outreach eﬀort to communicate task force activities will be implemented

throughout the duration of the Task Force life. e Task Force expects to present a draft report to

the Board in 12 months, and conclude its activities within 18 months, from the date that formation

of the Task Force is approved. e Board Oﬃce will serve as the focal point for coordination and

implementation of all Task Force activities.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Appendix C: Roundtable 1—February 8, 2008

NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

TASK FORCE ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Roundtable Discussion #1

Science, Engineering, and Education Challenges

Related to the Dev

elopment of Sustainable Energy

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1235

Arlington, VA 22230

February 8, 2008

AGENDA

8:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Steven Beering, Chairman, National Science Board •

8:05 a.m. Overview, Purpose, and Goals of the Roundtable Discussion

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss, Co-Chairmen, Task Force on Sustainable •

Energy, National Science Boar

8:15 a.m. Process and Logistics for Board Roundtable Discussions

Dr. Craig R

obinson, Acting Executive Oﬃcer, National Science Board•

8:20 a.m. Introduction of Participants

8:30 a.m. Presentation: Facing the Hard Truths About Energy: A Comprehensive View To

2030 of Global Oil and Natural Gas

Speaker: Mr. Rod N

elson, Vice President, Schlumberger Limited

8:50 a.m. Discussion Session 1: Sustainable Energy Research and Development

Discussion Co-Moderators: Dr. Arvizu and Dr. Strauss

10:15 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. Presentation: IPCC IV Assessment Report: Synthesis Report on Climate Change

2007

Speaker: Dr. Robert Corell, Program Director, Heinz Center

10:50 a.m. Presentation: NSF and Energy Research and Education

Speaker: Dr. Richard Buckius, Assistant Director, Directorate for Engineering,

National Science Foundation

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

11:10 a.m. Working Lunch

Discussion Session 2: NSF’s Role in a National Sustainable Energy Initiative

Discussion Co-Moderators: Dr. Arvizu and Dr. Strauss

12:45 p.m. Break

1:00 p.m. Presentation: Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What

Cost?

Speaker: Mr. Kenneth Ostrowski, Director of the Americas Electric Power and

Natural Gas Practice, McKinsey & Company

1:30 p.m. Discussion Session 3: Recommendations for a National Research and Education

Initiative in Sustainable Energy

Discussion Co-Moderators: Dr. Arvizu and Dr. Strauss

2:45 p.m. Summary and Next Steps for the Task Force

Dr. Arvizu and Dr. Strauss•

Appendix C: Roundtable 1—February 8, 2008

List of Participants: Roundtable Discussion #1

Name Aﬃliation

National Science Board Participants

Dr. Dan E. Arvizu

Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy,

National Science Board

Dr. Jon C. Strauss

Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy,

National Science Board

Dr. Mark R. Abbott Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Steven C. Beering Chairman, National Science Board

Dr. Camilla P. Benbow Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. John T. Bruer Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Patricia D. Galloway Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. José-Marie Griﬃths Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Daniel E. Hastings Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Douglas D. Randall Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Mr. Arthur K. Reilly Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Arden Bement, Jr.,

ex oﬃcio

Director, National Science Foundation

Participants

Dr. Ghassem Asrar Deputy Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Dr. Sam Baldwin

Chief Technology Oﬃcer and Member, Board of Directors, Oﬃce of

Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Jan Brecht-Clark

Associate Administrator, RD&T Research and Innovative Technology

Administration, United States Department of Transportation

Dr. Richard Buckius

Assistant Director, Directorate for Engineering, National Science

Foundation

Dr. Robert (Bob) Corell Program Director, Heinz Center

Dr. Jon Creyts Principal, McKinsey & Company

Dr. Patricia Dehmer

Deputy Director of Science Programs, Oﬃce of Science, U.S.

Department of Energy

Mr. Chris DiPetto

Developmental Test and Evaluation Deputy Director, Defense Systems

and Software Engineering, Deputy Under Secretary for Acquisition

and Technology, United States Department of Defense

Dr. James (Jim) Dooley Senior Staﬀ Scientist, Joint Global Change Research Institute

Dr. Luis Echegoyen

Division Director, Division of Chemistry, National Science

Foundation

Dr. Carolyn Fischer Fellow, Resources for the Future

Dr. Alan Hecht

Director for Sustainable Development, Oﬃce of Research and

Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mr. Joe Loper Vice President of Policy and Research, Alliance to Save Energy

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Mr. Richard Mertens

Deputy Associate Director for Energy, Science, and Water,

White House/Oﬃce of Management and Budget

Dr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic Professor of Energy Economics, Vienna University of Technology

Mr. Rod Nelson Vice President, Schlumberger Limited

Dr. Robert O’Connor

Program Director, Decision, Risk and Management Sciences, Division

of Social and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation

Mr. Ken Ostrowski

Director of the Americas Electric Power and Natural Gas Practice,

McKinsey & Company

Ambassador Richard

Russell

Associate Director and Deputy Director for Technology, Oﬃce of

Science and Technology Policy, Executive Oﬃce of the President

Mr. Jim Presswood Energy Advocate, Natural Resources Defense Council

Dr. Harvey Sachs

Director, Buildings Programs, American Council for an Energy

Eﬃcient Economy

Mr. Jonathan Spector Chief Executive Oﬃcer, e Conference Board, Inc.

In Attendance & Supporting a Conﬁrmed Participant

Dr. Linda Blevins

Technical Advisor, Oﬃce of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department

of Energy

Mr. Brad Hancock

Associate Director for Energy and Utilities, U.S. Department of

Defense

Dr. Kevin Hurst

Senior Policy Analyst, Technology Division, Oﬃce of Science and

Technology Policy, Executive Oﬃce of the President

Dr. Tom Zimmerman Fellow, Schlumberger Limited

Appendix D: Roundtable 2—June 19, 2008

NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

TASK FORCE ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Roundtable Discussion #2

Science, Engineering, and Education Challenges

Related to the Development of Sustainable Energy

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitors Center

15013 Denver West Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

June 19, 2008

AGENDA

8:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Steven Beering, Chairman, National Science Board •

8:05 a.m. Summary of the First Task Force Roundtable Discussion on February 8, 2008;

Overview, Purpose, and Goals of Today’s Roundtable Discussion

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss, Co-Chairmen, Task Force on Sustainable •

Energy, National Science Board

8:20 a.m. Process and Logistics for Board Roundtable Discussions

Dr. Craig Robinson, Acting Executive Oﬃcer, National Science Board•

8:25 a.m. Introduction of Participants

8:35 a.m. Presentation: Sustainable Energy Supplies to Power Higher Education:

Challenges and Opportunities

Speaker: Mr. Dave Newport, Director, Environmental Center, University of

Colorado-Boulder

9:00 a.m. D

iscussion Session 1: Linking Regional and Higher Education Activities to a

National Research and Education Initiative in Sustainable Energy

Co-Moderators: Dr. D

an Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Presentation: Renewable Energy Technologies

Speaker: Dr. Douglas Arent, Director, Strategic Energy Analysis and

Applications Center, National R

enewable Energy Laboratory

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

10:45 a.m. Discussion Session 2: New Generation Sustainable Energy Technologies

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

12:15 p.m. Lunch

Luncheon Presentation: e U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Speaker: Mr. Mike Wassmer, Senior Engineer, National Center for

Photovoltaics, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1:30 p.m. Break

1:45 p.m. Presentation: Nuclear Science and Technology

Speaker: Dr. David Hill, Deputy Director, Idaho National Laboratory

2:00 p.m. Discussion Session 3: Sustainable Nuclear Technology Status and Potential

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

2:25 p.m. Presentation: Moving Forward With Clean Coal Technology

Speaker: Mr. Carl Bauer, Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory

2:40 p.m. Discussion Session 4: Advanced Clean Coal Technologies

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Presentation: Colorado’s Clean Energy Initiatives

Speaker: Ms. Heidi VanGenderen, Senior Adviser on Climate Change and

Energy, Oﬃce of the Governor, State of Colorado

3:40 p.m. Discussion Session 5: Role of Federal, State, and Local Education Initiatives to

Respond to Workforce Needs in the Sustainable Energy Sector

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

4:45 p.m. Summary and Next Steps for the Task Force

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss•

Appendix D: Roundtable 2—June 19, 2008

List of Participants: Roundtable Discussion #2

Name Aﬃliation

National Science Board Participants

Dr. Dan E. Arvizu Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy, National Science Board

Dr. Jon C. Strauss Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy, National Science Board

Dr. Mark R. Abbott Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Steven C. Beering Chairman, National Science Board

Dr. Camilla P. Benbow Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. John T. Bruer Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Patricia D. Galloway Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. José-Marie Griﬃths Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Douglas D. Randall Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Mr. Arthur K. Reilly Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Craig Robinson Acting Executive Oﬃcer, National Science Board

Participants

Dr. Douglas Arent Director, Strategic Energy Analysis and Applications Center, National

Renewable Energy Laboratory

Mr. Carl Bauer Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

Dr. Richard Buckius

Assistant Director, Directorate for Engineering, National Science

Foundation

Dr. David Hill Deputy Laboratory Director for Science & Technology, Idaho National

Laboratory

Dr. Douglas Hittle Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State

University

Dr. Zakya Kafaﬁ Division Director, Division of Materials Research, National Science

Foundation

Dr. Carl Koval Faculty Director, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,

University of Colorado at Boulder

Dr. Mark Lusk Professor of Physics, Director, Golden Energy Computing Organization,

Colorado School of Mines

Dr. Nigel Middleton Provost and Senior Vice-President for Strategic Enterprises, Colorado

School of Mines

Ms. Joan Miller Senior Vice President, Energy and Chemicals Group, CH2M HILL

Mr. Chris Namovicz Operations Research Analyst, EIA’s Oﬃce of Integrated Analysis and

Forecasting

Mr. Dave Newport Director, University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center

Dr. Trung Van Nguyen Director of the Energy for Sustainability Program, National Science

Foundation

Dr. Anu Ramaswami Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Sustainable

Urban Infrastructure program, University of Colorado Denver

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Dr. Dmitri Routkevitch Product Manager, Synkera Technologies, Inc.

Dr. Ann Russell Program Director, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science

Foundation

Mr. James Spaeth Director, Oﬃce of Commercialization & Project Management, U.S.

Department of Energy

Dr. Rita Teutonico Advisor for Integrative Activities, Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and

Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation

Ms. Heidi VanGenderen Senior Adviser on Climate Change and Energy, Oﬃce of the Governor,

State of Colorado

Mr. Michael Wassmer Senior Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Competition

Manager, DOE Solar Decathlon

Dr. Bryan Willson Director, Clean Energy Supercluster, Colorado State University (CSU);

Chief Scientiﬁc Oﬃcer, Cenergy; Professor, Department of Mechanical

Engineering, CSU

Appendix E: Roundtable 3—September 4, 2008

NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

TASK FORCE ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Roundtable Discussion #3

Science, Engineering, and Education Challenges

Related to the Development of S

ustainable Energy

University of California, Berkeley

Clark Kerr Campus Conference Center

2601 Warring St.

Berkeley, CA 94720

September 4, 2008

AGENDA

8:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Steven Beering, Chairman, National Science Board•

8:05 a.m. Summary of Previous Task Force Roundtable Discussions: February 8, 2008 in

Arlington, VA and June 19, 2008 in Golden, Colorado

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss, Co-Chairmen, Task Force on Sustainable •

Energy, National Science Board

8:15 a.m. Overview, Purpose, and Goals of Today’s Roundtable Discussion

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss •

8:25 a.m. Introduction of Participants

8:30 a.m. Presentation: What R

oles Can Federal and State Governments Play in Promoting

Sustainable Energy?

peaker: Dr. Mark Levine, Staﬀ Senior Scientist and leader of China Energy

Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

8:45 a.m. Discussion Session 1: Regulatory Environment for Sustainable Energy Research

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

9:15 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Presentation: Sustainable Energy Policy: Integrating Energy, Ecology, and Economics

Speaker: Dr. Mark B

rown, Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering

Sciences; Program Director, Center for E

nvironmental Policy, University of Florida

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

9:55 a.m. Discussion Session 2: Sustainable Energy Policy: Integrating Energy, Ecology,

and Economics

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

10:55 a.m. Presentation: A Renewable Energy Perspective: Financing, Forecasting, Modeling,

and Trajectory

Speaker: Mr. Vinod Khosla, Founder and Partner, Khosla Ventures

11:20 a.m. Presentation: Federal Support for Sustainable Energy Research

Speaker: Dr. Daniel M. Kammen, Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of

Energy, University of California, Berkeley; Founding Director, Renewable and

Appropriate Energy Laboratory

11:45 p.m. Discussion Session 3: Public-Private Investment in Sustainable Energy Research

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

12:30 p.m. Lunch

Luncheon Welcoming Remarks: Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, University of

California at Berkeley

12:40 p.m. Luncheon Presentation: Net Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings:

Rationale and Vision for the Federal R&D Agenda

Speaker: Dr. S. Shyam Sunder, Director, Building and Fire Research Laboratory,

National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States Department of

Commerce

1:40 p.m. Break

1:55 p.m. Presentation: Advancing Public Awareness of Topics in Sustainable Energy

Speaker: Dr. Eric R.A.N. Smith, Professor, Department of Political Science and

Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara

2:20 p.m. Presentation: Education in Sustainable Energy and Global Sustainability: NSF

Context

Speaker: Dr. Al DeSena, Program Director, Division of Research on Learning

in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL), National Science Foundation;

Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Cluster, DRL, NSF

2:45 p.m. Discussion Session 4: Public Awareness and Education of Sustainable Energy

Co-Moderators: Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

4:00 p.m. Presentation with Q&A: Current Sustainable Energy Initiatives in NSF’s

Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences

Speaker: Dr. Tony Chan, Assistant Director, Directorate for Mathematical &

Physical Sciences, National Science Foundation

4:30 p.m. Summary and Next Steps for the Task Force

Dr. Dan Arvizu and Dr. Jon Strauss

Appendix E: Roundtable 3—September 4, 2008

List of Participants: Roundtable Discussion #3

Name Aﬃliation

National Science Board Participants

Dr. Dan E. Arvizu

Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy, National Science

Board

Dr. Jon C. Strauss

Co-Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Energy, National Science

Board

Dr. Mark R. Abbott Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Steven C. Beering Chairman, National Science Board

Dr. Camilla P. Benbow Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Patricia D. Galloway Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. José-Marie Griﬃths Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Douglas D. Randall Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Mr. Arthur K. Reilly Task Force on Sustainable Energy Member, National Science Board

Dr. Craig R. Robinson Acting Executive Oﬃcer, National Science Board

Participants

Dr. Robert Birgeneau Chancellor and Professor of Physics, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Harvey Blanch Chief Science and Technology Oﬃcer, Joint BioEnergy Institute;

Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley;

Senior Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Dr. Carl Blumstein Director, California Institute for Energy and the Environment

Dr. Severin Borenstein Director, University of California Energy Institute; E. T. Grether

Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, Haas School of

Business, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Mark Brown Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences;

Program Director, Center for Environmental Policy, University of

Florida

Dr. Tony Chan Assistant Director, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences,

National Science Foundation

Dr. Steven Chu Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Mr. John Denniston Partner, Kleiner Perkins Cauﬁeld & Byers

Dr. Al DeSena Program Director, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and

Informal Settings (DRL); Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Cluster,

DRL, National Science Foundation

Dr. Sossina Haile Professor of Materials Science and of Chemical Engineering, California

Institute of Technology

Mr. Rich Halvey Energy Program Director, Western Governors’ Association

Dr. Zakya Kafaﬁ Division Director, Division of Materials Research, National Science

Foundation

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Action for an Eﬀective Energy Economy Transformation

Dr. Daniel Kammen Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of Energy, University of

California, Berkeley; Founding Director, Renewable and Appropriate

Energy Laboratory

Mr. Vinod Khosla Founder and Partner, Khosla Ventures

Mr. Hal LaFlash Director, Emerging Clean Technology Policy, Paciﬁc Gas and Electric

Company

Dr. Mark Levine Staﬀ Senior Scientist and Leader of China Energy Group, Lawrence

Berkeley National Lab

Dr. Jane Long Principal Associate Director at Large, Lawrence Livermore National

Laboratory

Dr. Arun Majumdar Director, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence

Berkeley National Laboratory; Almy & Agnes Maynard Chair

Professor, College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Trung Van Nguyen Director, Energy for Sustainability Program, National Science

Foundation

Dr. Ann Russell Program Director, Division of Environmental Biology, National

Science Foundation

Dr. Nancy Ryan Chief of Staﬀ, Oﬃce of President Michael Peevey, California Public

Utilities Commission

Dr. Eric Smith Professor, Department of Political Science and Environmental Studies

Program, University of California, Santa Barbara

Dr. S. Shyam Sunder Director, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of

Standards and Technology, United States Department of Commerce

Dr. Duane Wegener Professor of Psychological Sciences; Initiative Leader for Social,

Economic, and Political Aspects of Energy Use and Policy, Energy

Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University

Dr. Catherine Wolfram Executive Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Innovation;

Associate Professor of Business Administration, Haas School of

Business, University of California, Berkeley

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Seungdo, Kim and Bruce E. Dale. “Life Cycle Assessment of Various Cropping Systems Utilized for

Producing Biofuels: Bioethanol and Biodiesel.” Biomass and Bioenergy, 29 (6, 2005): 426–439.

Waegel, Alex, John Byrne, Daniel Tobin, and Bryan Haney. “Hydrogen Highways: Lessons on

the Energy Technology-Policy Interface.” Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 26 (4, 2006):

288–298.

Yacobucci, Brent. Advanced Vehicle Technologies: Energy, Environment, and Development Issues.

(Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, RL30484, December 6, 2007).

National Science Board Recent Publications

Science and Engineering Indicators 2008

(volume 1, NSB-08-01; volume 2, NSB-08-01A)

International Science and Engineering Partnerships: A Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy

and Our Nation’s Innovation Enterprise (NSB-08-4)

Moving Forward to Improve Engineering Education (NSB-07-122)

A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System

(NSB-07-114)

Enhancing Support of Transformative Research at the National Science Foundation

(NSB-07-32)

Obtaining the Board Report

e report is available electronically at: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2009/nsb0955_se_future.pdf

Paper copies of the report can be ordered by submitting a Web-based order form at: http://www.nsf.gov/

publications/orderpub.jsp or contacting NSF Publications at: 703-292-7827.

Other options for obtaining the documents: TTY: 800-281-8749; FIRS: 800-877-8339.

For special orders or additional information, contact the National Science Board Oﬃce: NSBOﬃ[email protected]v

or 703-292-7000.

Building a Sustainable

Energy Future:

U.S. Actions for an Effective

Energy Economy Transformation

National Science Board

August 3, 2009

NSB-09-55