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What can we das a society?

Renewables

and Incentives

What can we das a society?

Renewables

and Incentives

Dr. J Bret Bennington

Hofstra University

 

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Burning fossil f uel oxidizescarbon trapped in the cr ustof the Earth, releasing CO2

into the atmosphere.

Coal

Oil

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Carbon Dioxide iscompound - so ca

The term "pollution," whichimpurity, can be defined asagent in an inappropriate l

Encyclopedia of Public He

An undesirable change in tbiological characteristics of brought about by man's ac

Chemistry Dictionary 

Y

n

aturally occurringit be a pollutant?

carries with it a sense of ana chemical or physicalcation or concentration.

lt h

e physical, chemical, orthe natural environment,ivities.

s.

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Heating, Air Conditioning, Lithe Majority of Pers

hting, and Driving Generatenal CO2 Emissions

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Producer 

How do we reduc

More efficient dis

Non-fossil f uel energy sourcesRenewable:

solar, wind, tidal, geothermalBiof uel

Nuclear Power 

Invest in new technology Alternative energy generationCarbon capture and sequestration

Payoff?

Carbon taxes and e

create economic inc

Consumer 

CO2 emissions?

ribution

Reduce consumptionReduce waste

Invest in new technology

Fuel efficient vehiclesEnergy efficient appliances

Payoff - lower energy costs

issions caps

ntives to invest.

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Fossil Concentrated Portable and eas

Suited to centraliz Energy on deman

 Fuels

to storeed energy distributiond

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Renewab Diff us

Not p Decedistribu

Unpre- requi

le Energy

rtable,tralized energyion

dictable availabilityes battery storage

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Bio Benefits similar to fossil f u

No net carbon pollution? (to convert biomass to f u  

Bad idea to use food agri

Convert agricultural wast

Dryland, non-food, crops- Need to convert cellulose

uelsels (portable, on demand)

not cou

nting energy neededl and distribute product)

ulture to make f uel

to f uel

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Nuclear  Centralized distribution,portable

Not renewable (uranium

No carbon pollution

Requires water resourc

pollution Risk of accidental relea

Waste disposal proble

- Long term radiation poll- Potential for terrorism,

Energyon demand, but not

must be mined)

s for cooling - heat

e of radiation

still not solved

ution hazardroliferation

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Changing our energinvesting in new

infrast

Changing our energinvesting in new

infrast How do we pay for these Treat CO2 as a pollutant -

creates a cost to society (

Recover societal costs byproduction of the pollutan

Creates an economic inc

production requirestechnologies anducture

production requirestechnologies anducture

investments?generating pollutionclimate change).

putting a cost on the.

ntive to stop polluting.

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Changing our energinvesting in new

infrast

Changing our energinvesting in new

infrastCarbon TaxTax carbon emissions -$ per ton of CO2 emitted.

Tax can be applied at

all scales of fossil f ueluse.

Less fossil f uel burned,

less tax paid.Use tax revenues topay for R&D, grants, taxbreaks for alternative

energy investment.

production requirestechnologies anducture

production requirestechnologies anductureCap and TradeSet limits on amount of CO2 emitted per year.

Entities that emit lessthan their allotted capcan sell (trade) their remaining allotment toentities that exceed their cap.

Creates a market for ³pollution credits´ to

drive investment.

8/9/2019 "What Can We Do as a Society? Renewables and Incentives" Prof. Bret Bennington, Hofstra University

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Carbon tax acknowledges thwith the fossil f uel e

hidden costs associatednergy economy.

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Cap and Trade is politically an easitax - comes across more as free-

er sell because it is not obviously amarket environmental regulation.

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Carbon Capture nd Sequestration

Geologicalstorage of waste

CO2