379/384
Class Presentations
12/7/06
Nuclear Energy
The Case for Surging Forward
December 7, 2006
Audrea Buckley
Historical Overview
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1974- Energy Reorganization Act: founds Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
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Regulate civilian use of nuclear materials
Protect Public and Environment
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1985- Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act: authorized states to
dispose of low-level radioactive waste generated within their territory in facilities
serving a given group of states

2001- Price Anderson Act extended to 2025: limits insurance coverage of power
plants and protects public from potential plant accidents

2005- Energy Policy Act: allows continuation of nuclear energy licenses but vows
to improve environmental laws while pursuing a “Comprehensive Energy Plan”

THE POINT: Legislation processes are slow, ambiguous, and often contradictory.
The Status Quo
 Political gridlock regarding expansion of
nuclear energy infrastructure
 Humanitarian and environmental concerns
vastly disproportional to benefits due to
 Chernobyl disaster (1986)
 Three Mile Island accident (1979)
 Technology know-how, including waste
disposal options (2006!)
 Regulation
Technological Advantages
of Nuclear Energy
 Nominal, if any, environmental pollutant
emissions
 Safety and operating performance of
power plants steadily improves
 Waste volumes are small and federally
regulated
 DOE, NRC, EPA, DOD, DHHS
 Energy efficiency output is economically
viable in terms of operating costs
Political Advantages of
Nuclear Energy
 Satisfies short- and long-term energy
demand
 Already have technology
 Already have basic infrastructure
 Complies with domestic and international
norms
 Energy Initiative
 Kyoto Protocol
ATTN: Summary
 Considering contemporary and prospective
energy needs amid the political demands of
society, present U.S. policy ought to compel
immediate nuclear energy development in
order to provide an energy source that is
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sufficient
reliable
economical
secure
http://www.fotosearch.com/DGT070/cb028405/
Promoting Cleaner Coal Practices for the
Generation of Electricity
Ben Bayer
 Need: Coal Usage to Increase 53% by 2030
 Current Federal Policy is Twofold
– DOE sponsorship of “clean coal” technologies
 Clean Coal Power Initiative – partners with industry to develop
more efficient and lower cost pollution control technologies
 FutureGen - prototype “zero emissions” coal gasification plant
with integrated CO2 sequestration
– EPA regulations force utilities to develop better pollution
control equipment to stay in compliance or risk fines
 Strong Future Policy Necessary for Environment
and Energy Independence
– Iraq war currently costs $2 billion/week – this could buy
1 FutureGen plant and 5-500 MW state of the art SO2
scrubbers per week – every week!
Biomass Energy Policies
Priscilla Ho
December 7, 2006
CHE 384
Policy Timeline
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2000 – Biomass Research and
Development Act
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2002 – Farm Bill
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Outlined need for biomass research
Created Technical Advisory Committee
Called for R&D cooperation and coordination
between the DOE and USDA
Biomass Initiative
Supported bio-based products
Biorefinery development grants
Provided funds for biomass initiatives
2003 – Healthy Forest Restoration Act
Energy Policy Act of 2005

First national energy plan in more than a decade

Started in 2001, finished in 2005
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Provide tax incentives and loan guarantees
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Promote national security and economic growth

Increasing energy efficient consumer products, homes,
and Federal facilities and usage

Extend daylight savings time

Promoting hybrid cars by tax credits
Renewable Energy Portfolios
Biomass Policy
Recommendations
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State initiatives
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Policy – vision, roadmap, task force
Research and Development
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All states participate
Renewable Portfolio Standards (electricity) and Renewable
Fuel Standards (ethanol)
Feedstock collection – wide variety
Cost effective conversion technologies
Funding for research
Collaborations between DOE, USDA, etc. and industry
(Genencor) to share information
Market Development – lower cost of alternative fuel
Easing biomass to take the place of fossil fuels
Questions?
References
http://www.awea.org/policy/rpsbrief
.html
 http://www.ethanol.org/rfs.html
 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/bioma
ss/biomass_basics_faqs.html#incent
ives

Coal Gasification and CO2 Credits
By David Fenton
• Benefit of IGCC lies mainly in CO2 capture and sequestration
– COE of IGCC / with capture is 65% higher than that of conventional coal
• Currently no national regulations on CO2 emissions
• Several state governments have established long-term CO2 caps
• Congress considering “cap and trade” type CO2 emission regulation
• IGCC technology becomes favorable at CO2 prices above $30/ton
– This is in the high range of economic estimates
• IGCC does not appear to be an economical choice unless credits
are given for sequestered CO2
ETHANOL POLICY Recommendations
By Eloka Okonkwo & Jayna Bhatt
 Redesign
the
federal ethanol
incentive program
 Change
the ethanol
Mandate
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/resource/facts/economy/images/hist.jpg
Fischer-Tropsch Policies
Joe Wendland
Historical
Montana
Federal

Executive
Legislative
Judicial

Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Recommendations
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Fusion Policy Conclusions
Katharine Harrison, 12-7-2006
 Fusion research has had an erratic history of budget inflations and
cuts
 United States has recently entered the international fusion
research agreement: ITER
 It is imperative that funding remain more constant so that the U.S.
can uphold their international commitments
 Currently, DOE and Congress disagree on allocation of fusion
funding
 DOE wants to focus funding on ITER
 Congress wants to fund ITER but also maintain domestic fusion
research
 Retaining a domestic fusion program is important since there are
other technologies that ITER will not examine
 It will be difficult to get fusion to work
 Thus, the current funding is enough given the risk that fusion
energy could never be commercialized
Wind Energy Policy Summary
Haley Norris
 Federal Production Tax Credit
 1.9 cent per kWh electricity sold
 First ten years of project life
 Renewable Portfolio Standards
 State goal to reach % renewable capacity
 Electricity Feed Laws - Europe
 Pay fixed price to generators of renewable
electricity
Michael Metting
Hydrogen Fuel Policy Recommendations
• Increase Government Funding
(Currently Spend 50% Less Than Japan)
• Focus On Public Transportation
• Develop Small Scale Technology
H2ICE Policy Recommendations
Scott Owens
 Proactive Safety Standards Creation
 Market Pressure
– CAFE – ramp up, credits for H2ICE
– Similar emissions requirements
 Existing Infrastructure
– Federal support of existing infrastructure
– Public Access
– Fleet Vehicles (Public Transit, USPS, etc)
 Incentives
– Tax Deductions
– Rebates
DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE
WITH PLUG-IN HYBRIDS:
POLICIES
Presented By:
‘Banke Funsho
Temi Phillips
11/28/06
What are Plug- in Hybrids?
 Automobiles which can run on multiple sources of fuel.
Improved technology from regular hybrid; > 100mpg
Aim of Policies?
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, foreign dependency on
oil, creating more efficient vehicles
What are the Applicable Policies?
Oil-Saving Policy- More efficient cars on the road
Transportation Policy- HOV lane access at all times
Federal Income Tax- By virtue of purchase
State Tax Incentive- Removal of state sales tax
Rebate Incentives- Rebate on license plate registration
Insurance Incentives- Reduced car insurance premium
Proposed: Program granting funds to authorities
contributing to development of PHEV’s.
Policy – Global warming
Global dimming – Nick
•Policy is driven by need
–Pin the problem to health affects
•Old policy = coming of ice age
•New policy = heating up
•SOLUTION: Kyoto and the U.S.
•Necessary to combat together
–Reductions in So2, NOx, CO2, particulates
Electric Vehicle Policy
Recommendations:
•Re-initiate Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate
•Offer competitive incentives to producers of EV’s
•Initiate legislation to improve battery technology
•Introduce new campaigns in Texas to promote EV’s
•Ask your congressman/woman to increase spending on
EV research and development
•Grant larger tax breaks and insurance discounts to
consumers
Anna Paredez and Amish Dalal
Policy on Diesel in America
Ryan Macaluso & Wayne LaDow
•Diesel engine efficiency
•America’s policy towards diesel
– More geared towards
environment
•Comparisons to European policy
– Not many can be made
•Revised policy
Recommendations
Felicia and Vanessa
• Enact new policies
• Pay -as-You-Drive
• Powered truck stops
• Phase out school/public busses to renewable energy
• Follow lead of other states
• California Low Emission Vehicle Program
• CO2 emissions trading program
• Attract companies to promote Global Warming reducing
programs in Texas
• Legislators
• Comprehensive plan
• Long term plans for combating effects of Global Warming
• Costal areas shrinking
• Drought/ floods
• Look at alternatives to coal fire plants
Recommendations for Biomass
Technology in India & Texas
Andrea French and Nicole Munguia
Encourage Autonomy Within
Indian Villages
• Involve women
• Increase training for use,
maintenance, repair, finance
• Use existing village groups
• Stock materials, tools, accessories,
and spare parts in decentralized
stores
• Maintain regular and open
communication
• Beneficiary contribution for stake
Government Strategies
• Streamline funding
• Refine alternative feed stocks
Texas
• Federal subsidies should be
shifted from nuclear and fossil
power to renewable resources.
• Implement more “green pricing”
programs across the country.
• City governments should join
The International Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives
and create a ‘Carbon Reduction
Strategy’ with finite goals.
Wind Power
Recommendations
• Federal Policy
o Strengthen environmental legislation
o Stabilize the Production Tax Credit (PTC) schedule
o Keep benefits for public utilities and rural areas
o Pass Rural Energy for America Act
• State and Local Policy
o Increase Direct Investment Incentives
o Continue tax incentives (Income, Property, Sales)
o Keep updating Renewable Portfolio Standards
http://www.eurotrib.com/files/3/E70_seule.jpg
Solar Power Policy Summary
Bruce and Robert
 Past Policies
– Benefited businesses more than residents
• Current Policy
– California – “California Solar Initiative”
– Texas – Exemptions and deductions on franchise tax
• Future Policy
– Reduction in fees and tax credit extensions
• Recommendations
– Modify current tax incentive
– Offer low interest loans for solar installations
– More Govt. investment into R&D
CO2 Capture Policy
By: Michael Ng
CO2 Capture Policy
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United States does not believe global
warming is a major concern
President Bush believes carbon intensity can
be reduced without slowing the economy
Advocate the use of post-combustion CO2
capture technology (PCT) or integrated
gasification combined cycle (IGCC) for
reduction of CO2 levels
Different CO2 capture strategies differ for
each regions around the world
Solar Photovoltaic Policy
Chris Lombardo
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Research Funds
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Tax Incentives
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$648 million from 2007-2010 to become cost completive by
2015
Income tax credit – 20% - 30% of invoice
Property tax – no added taxable value
Sales tax – makes large difference to consumer but little to
government
Rebates
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Need to offer over $4/Watt rebate
Tie into technology industry like Austin Energy
Conclusions
Jorge M. Plaza
• Future of world’s energy supply is an intricate
problem.
– Solution must include economic development and
sustainability.
• Hydrogen is one of the options
–
–
–
–
–
Technical Challenges
Policy conditions that need to be established.
The answer needs to include all possible technologies.
Consistent policies on a local and global scale.
More investment in R&D is needed.
• Hydrogen depends on CO2 sequestration +
Security Policy
• Hydrogen can not depend on market forces
– Government involvement (subsidies, taxes, incentives)
– Financed by stakeholders
Summary
Adam Womack and Patrick Blomberg
• Multinational cooperation needed to
develop wave energy rapidly
• United States policy should include more
than political buzzwords
• West Coast between 40 and 60 latitude
(N&S) could provide 10% of world need
• Severn Barrage alone could manage 6%
Wales/England need
U.S. Nuclear Policy Recommendations
For sustainability…
– Proliferation-resistant reprocessing –
implement when mature, subsidize if needed
– Permanent disposal measures
Additional sites besides Yucca Mountain
To foster growth in the industry…
– Change negative public attitude
Outreach programs
– Economic incentives
Carbon emissions credit
Robert Tsai
Hydrogen Policy
Matios Yeknian
ChE 379
• President Bush’s 2003 State of the Union
address
– $1.2 billion Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, describing it as a
clean and secure energy future.
• In 1999, the California Fuel Cell Partnership was
formed
– So far this partnership has built 16 hydrogen fueling
stations with plans to build an additional 15 and is
operating 95 hydrogen powered vehicles.
– On July 21, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a
hydrogen highway bill.
• Billions of dollars needed to realize a hydrogen
future
US Hydrogen Policy
Matios Yeknian
ChE 379
• Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research,
Development and Demonstration Act of
1990 –R&D program
• Hydrogen Future Act of 1996-184 million
dollars appropriated to hydrogen research
• FreedomCAR – Agreement between DOE
and Council of Automotive Research
• President’s Hydrogen Initiative-1.2 billion
dollar program
• Energy Policy Act 2005 – more R&D,
Storage, Distribution and Production
• MORE MONEY NEEDED!
Wind Power
Recommendations
• Federal Policy
o Strengthen environmental legislation
o Stabilize the Production Tax Credit (PTC) schedule
o Keep benefits for public utilities and rural areas
o Pass Rural Energy for America Act
• State and Local Policy
o Increase Direct Investment Incentives
o Continue tax incentives (Income, Property, Sales)
o Keep updating Renewable Portfolio Standards
http://www.eurotrib.com/files/3/E70_seule.jpg
Biodiesel Production
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Economic Growth
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Creating Demand for Biodiesel
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While Keeping Cost Low
Increasing Economy of Scale
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U.S. economic contributions of Biodiesel
Plants not operating at full capacity
State vs. Federal Incentives