How Dept of Energy (DOE) plans will raise your energy prices, jeopardize energy reliability, reduce consumer choice, and increase wasteful federal spending
Q-Factor General Quiz-7th April 2024, Quiz Club NITW
Dept of Energy
1. Short Circuiting
Our Energy
How Dept of Energy (DOE) plans will raise
your energy prices, jeopardize energy
reliability, reduce consumer choice, and
increase wasteful federal spending
2. Presentation Overview
• Obama’s State of the Union message on energy
• How DOE will deploy clean energy
• A review of energy sources and costs
• Impact of regulations, subsidies and loan guarantees
• DOE 2011 objectives and budget
• Snapshot of legislative activity
• What we can do
• Questions and Answers
3. Obama’s State of the Union Address
• Clean energy means national security, protects the planet and
creates countless new jobs
• Reinventing policy to make achieving 80% energy from clean
sources the “space race” of our time
• Goal of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015
4. OBAMA’S DOE MANDATE
• Using the Clean Air Act and the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007
(EISA)
• Requests EPA and the NHTSA to
–make new rules on fuel efficiency and
GHG emissions standards for
• commercial medium- and heavy-duty
vehicles beginning with model year
2014
• light-duty vehicles of model year 2017
–review current non-GHG emissions “as
part of a comprehensive approach
toward regulating motor vehicles”
• Requests the Secretary of Energy
–Promote the deployment of electric
vehicles
Source: Obama Presidential Memorandum to Secretaries of Transportation, Energy, EPA, National Hwy Traffic Safety
Administration – May 21, 2010
5. Impact
• CAFÉ standards (corporate average fuel efficiency – the
average fuel efficiency of a car manufacturer’s product line for
passenger and light trucks)
– Current goal: 35 mpg by 2016
– EPA’s new goal: 62 mpg by 2025
• Center for Automotive Research: increases cost
of a vehicle by more than $9,000 by 2025
Source: National Taxpayers Union “Is a Hidden Tax on Cars, Trucks and Tractors and Other Vehicles Just Around the
Corner?” – March 15, 2011
6. Electric Cars
Pros Cons
• Low emissions • More expensive purchase price ($3,000-8,000)
• Fuel savings • Maintenance costs
• Quiet – Battery life: 3 years (lithium a fire risk when overheated)
• Gov’t incentives – Replacement battery: $8,000 plus disposal cost
– Hard-to-find repair shops
• Shock hazard, esp in accident
• Not suitable for snowy or flooding areas
• Quiet
• Plug-in models
– Home charging units $1000-2000 plus installation,
circuit upgrades, metering
– Range anxiety
Taxpayers foot $2,500-$7,500 for every electric vehicle purchase.
64% of Americans say they’re not likely to buy an electric car in the next 10 years.
GSA stated US gov’t bought 25% of GM/Ford hybrids in 2010.
Source: Rasmussen poll - 1/25/11; Heritage Foundation; George C. Marshall Institute “Electric Cars” Dec 2010; various
7.
8. Four Tactics to Deploy Clean Energy
• Former Assistant Energy Secretary Cathy Zoi
– Four tactics for green energy projects
• Government subsidies for private-sector
• Special tax incentives
• Low-interest government-backed loans
• “The fourth one, which the secretary and I love,” said Zoi, “is
where we have a mandate. Where we can actually just issue
regulations and do market transformation.”
Source: CSNNews.com – “ Energy Department Says It Has ‘Mandate’ to Force ‘Market Transformation’ for Household
Appliances – Sept 17, 2010
9. OBAMA’S DOE MANDATE
Under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975
(EPCA), the Department of
Energy (DOE) is required to
establish by certain dates energy
efficiency standards for a broad
class of residential and
commercial products. These
products are appliances and
other equipment used in
consumers' homes and in
commercial establishments.
Source: Obama Presidential Memorandum to Sec. of Energy - Feb 5, 2009
10. New DOE Regulations
• DOE has issued new efficiency standards for more than 25 different products
and still more are on the way
• Appliances covered
– Water heaters and furnaces
– Showerheads (limited to 2.5 gal per min – even if two or more showerheads)
– Refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens and ranges
– Central air conditioners and window units and gas-fired wall, floor and hearth heaters
– Beverage vending machines and commercial clothes washers
– Small electric motors, battery chargers, general service lamps
• Changes energy efficiency measurement system to include “full fuel cycle”
analysis including greenhouse gas emissions
– Requires greater and greater use of estimates and approximations, which at some
point introduce a false sense of precision. For example, the effort to calculate the
imputed ‘social cost’ of each ton of carbon emissions actually introduces more
uncertainty and confusion into the rulemaking process.”
- Testimony of Kenneth Barker, on behalf of Edison Electric Institute
Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute – “How Obama Is Invading Your Home” - Oct 11, 2010
11. Consumer Impact
• Will raise the price of appliances (often by more than energy savings) and
some will perform more poorly
– Water heaters
• Energy Department estimates cost of compliance will hike water heater prices from $67
to $974 depending on the size
• “Electric resistance water heaters with a capacity of more than 55 gallons no longer
would be available after 2015” – Edison Electric Institute
– Washing machines
• Consumer Reports - several ultra-efficient models "left our stain-soaked swatches
nearly as dirty as they were before washing" and that "for best results, you'll have to
spend $900 or more."
– Refrigerators
• Energy Department admits that most consumers will lose money on its latest
refrigerator regulation because the energy cost savings will be less than the higher price
consumers will pay
• Potential to eliminate entire classes of appliances from the market
DOE states the final rule may impose expenditures of $100 million or more on the private sector,
although DOE believes such expenditures are likely to be less than $50 million.
12. Small Business Impact
Example: Direct Heating Equipment (DHE) Manufacturers
• DOE Cost-Benefit analysis
– Save enough energy over 30 years to eliminate the need for three new 250 MW
power plants
– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Impact on Direct Heating Equipment (DHE)
– The majority of manufacturers are small businesses – cost of compliance: $1.92
million each
– Larger firms have few manufacturing lines to convert – cost of compliance:
$790,000 each
• DOE acknowledges the negative impact
– Small business are more likely to be disproportionately harmed
– Concluded that some manufacturers will be able to maintain a viable number of product
offerings
– Determined that the final rule may impose expenditures of $100 million or more on the
private sector
Source: Government Accountability Office Memo – May 26, 2010
13. US Energy Policy is Causing Decline in Electric
Power Generation
• In 2009, generation decreased 4% following a 1% decline in 2008
– Largest decline in 60 years
– First time in 60 years that generation has fallen two consecutive years
– Some decline attributed to poor economy but most is a result of environmental
regulation
• North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) - highly regarded
federal energy advisory body
– Issued a special assessment on EPA’s pending electric utility regulations
– Regulations, as proposed, will reduce national power generation by 7.2% by
2015, mostly coal-fired plants
• Credit Suisse estimates $150 billion in capital investment by 2019 in order
to comply with new regulations
Sources: NERC, Credit Suisse, Energy Information Administration
14. Electric Power Net Generation - 2009
US Georgia
Total = 3,950 billion kWh Total = 9.8 billion kWh
Nuclear Nuclear
20% Hydro Other 31% Hydro
7% Renew 2%
Other Gases 4%
Other
0%
Other Renew
0% 3%
Nat Gas Nat Gas
23% 14%
Petroleum
0%
Petroleum
1% Coal
Coal
45%
50%
Source: Energy Information Administration – Electric Power industry 2009
15. Coal
• Abundant supply: ~25% of the world supply of coal is in the US
• Coal-fired electric plants: very low-cost source of power
– Produces almost half of all US electricity and half of Georgia’s electricity
• New EPA regulations to control emissions give 44% of plants 3 yrs to
comply
– EPA: Industry annual cost $11 billion, customer cost by $3-4/mo, creates jobs, health cost savings
– American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity: Industry costs $100 billion by 2015, job losses due to higher
electricity costs and retirement of plants
Plants outside life expectancy Impact of EPA Regs on Coal
Older Close
than 40 18%
yrs 60
33% GW
180 100
GW
56% GW
Upgrade
29%
Source: Credit Suisse – “Growth From Subtraction: Impact of EPA Rules on Power Markets” Sept 2010, USA Today –
“EPA proposes rules to limit emissions from coal-fired plants
16. Natural Gas
• Huge supply of natural gas in the US; vast new reserves discovered
– US is the world’s largest producer
• Natural gas electric plants
– Produce almost one-fourth of all US electricity
– Produce 14% of Georgia’s electricity
• Low cost power, smaller scale plants, flexible generation
17. Nuclear
• Uses uranium to produce power
– Abundant supplies of uranium
– Megatons to Megawatts: US-Russian program recycles uranium from
nuclear warheads into fuel for nuclear plants
• Low cost source of power but large construction costs and waste
disposal needs 12
10
Cents per kilowatt hour
8
Fuel Costs
6 Ops & Maintenance
Production
4
2
0
Nuclear Coal Gas
Constr Cost $/kWe $5,500-$6,100 $4,700 $1,200
Capacity MWe 1,400 600 400
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute
18. Renewable Energy
• Includes solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal
• Considered “intermittent” sources of energy
– Weather dependent: sun must shine, wind must blow, rain must
fall, etc.
– Requires back-up source of power and storage
• Very high cost source of power
• Addition of transmission grid construction also costly
• Most components for renewable energy plants come from foreign
sources (China, Japan, Europe)
• Many grants and subsidies granted to foreign-based companies
“We don’t want to swap our dependence on foreign oil for dependence
on clean energy.” - Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Environment Group’s Global
Warming Campaign
19. Land Requirements
850 MW Coal
1650 acres
Deliver power 90%
of the time
850 MW Wind
270,000 acres
Deliver power 25-30%
of time
850 MW Solar
6000-10,000 acres
Deliver power 20-30% of time
Source: Power4Georgians
20. Likely Voters Believe…
Which is more important, finding new sources of energy What is the better long-term financial investment for America:
or reducing the amount of energy Americans now investing in renewable energy resources like solar and wind or
investing in fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil?
consume?
Not Sure Not Sure
7% 11%
Less Fossil
Consumption 23%
35%
New Source
58%
Renewable
66%
But do they understand what it will cost them?
(52% not willing to pay more for clean energy)
Source: Rasmussen Poll – Energy Update – January 11, 2011, June 18, 2010
21. Renewable Energy is Very Expensive
Natural Gas Coal
450
450
400
400
350
350
2008 $/mega watt hr
2008 $/mega watt hr
300 300
250
+76% 250
+29%
200
+43% +56% 200
+10%
150 +5% 150
100 100
50 50
0 0
Advanced Conventional Advanced CC Advanced Conventional
Conventional Advanced Advanced with
Combined Combined with CCS Combustion Combustion
Cycle Cycle Turbine Turbine
CCS
"Green" Energy Explanation of Terms
450 • Advanced = improved
400 combustion technologies
350 • CCS = Carbon
Capture/Storage
2008 $/mega watt hr
300
250 • Combined Cycle = use of
200
waste heat to generate steam
150
with additional turbine
100
• PV = photovoltaic
50
0
Biomass Geothermal Hydro Wind Wind-Offshore Solar Thermal Solar PV
Source: US Energy Information Administration – Annual Energy Outlook 2010
22. Renewable Energy Standards (RES)
(part of HR 2454 aka Cap & Trade)
• Minimum levels of electricity supplied by approved renewable sources
– Usually expressed as a percentage of total electricity generation
• Lack of transmission grid
– 20% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2024
• 15,000 circuit miles of extremely high voltage lines
• cost up to $100 billion
• assent of local authorities and landowners, and might require
federal intervention
• Heritage Foundation study
– RES starts at 3% 2012 and rises by 1.5% per yr
• Minimum 15% renewable electricity by 2020
• Minimum 22.5% by 2025
• Minimum of 37.5% by 2035
Source: WSJ “New Grid for Renewable Energy Could Be Costly” – Feb 9, 2009 ; Heritage Foundation
23. Impact of RES by 2035
Cumulative Change in Family
Cumulative Impact on GDP Change in Employment
(Thousands of Jobs) of 4’s Share of Federal Deficit
Cut GDP by $5.2 Reduce employment Add more than
trillion by more than $10,000 to a family
1,000,000 jobs of four’s share of the
national debt
Raise electricity prices by 36% for households and 60% for industry
Source: Heritage Foundation – “A Renewable Electricity Standard: What It Will Really Cost Americans” May 5, 2010
24. Clean Energy Standard (CES)
• POTUS proposed in SOTU address
– 80% of energy from clean technologies by 2035
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources (Bingaman and Murkowski)
– March 21 – Issued a “white paper”
– Soliciting public input
25. Cost of Energy Subsidies
• Joint Committee on Taxation – Tax Provisions
– Renewable energy projects: ~$12.5 billion a year
– Oil and gas: ~$1 billion/yr
• Administration plans to reduce fossil fuel subsidies while raising
taxes on fossil fuel companies
• Subsidies re-allocated to "renewable energy projects" (spending
shifted, not reduced)
• By favoring renewable energy over fossil fuels, the government is
manipulating the free market through the tax code
– In the free market, the most cost-efficient energy would win, but
subsidies and tax breaks create government-picked winners
Source: townhall.com - “The Obama Energy Tax Hike May Not Be Dead”
26. Subsidies Distort Free Markets
Federal 1603 Grant Program
• Over $1 billion in 2009
• Extended one year by Tax Relief Act passed Dec 2010
Federal 1705 Energy Loan Guarantee Program
• Over $4 billion in 2009 – zero in DOE 2011 budget
Source: Briefing Memo Oct 25, 2010 (Browner/Klain/Summers) to Pres. Obama “Renewable Energy Loans and Grants
27. Shepherds Flat – Wind Project in Oregon
• Total project cost: $1.9 billion
Fed 1603
Other Grant
24% 25% • Total gov’t subsidies: $1.2 billion (65%)
State Tax
Credit
1% • Sponsor’s equity: 11% with 30% ROE
Co Equity
11%
Accel. • Carbon reductions must be valued at
Deprecia-
tion on Fed $130/ton of CO2 for climate benefits to
& State
Taxes
equal the subsidies (more than 6 times
Premium for
Value of 11% the primary estimate used by gov’t in
Fed Loan
state
renewable
Guarantee evaluating rules)
16%
energy std
12%
• $35.4 million for each of the 35
Source of project funding permanent jobs the project will create
Source: Briefing Memo Oct 25, 2010 (Browner/Klain/Summers) to Pres. Obama “Renewable Energy Loans and Grants
Note: Carol Browner, Obama’s climate change “czar,”
Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council
Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden
28. Solar Bankruptcies
• Solyndra
– Thin-film solar cells for commercial rooftops
– $535 million gov’t loan (DOE)
– A few months later, withdrew its initial public offering due to a sub-par review
from auditors
– A year later, closed its first factory and eliminated 200 jobs
– Can’t find financing to finish expansion of the second factory
• Evergreen Solar
– $76 million in state subsidies and millions in federal subsidies
– Shutting its Massachusetts factory, laying off 700 workers and moving production
to China
“If a company needs a subsidy to hire a worker, that worker will be
out on the street when the subsidy expires.” – Heritage Foundation
Source: Heritage Foundation – responses to Obama’s State of the Union Address
29. Ethanol Mandates are Ineffectual
$0.45 cents fed subsidy (tax credit) per gal added to gasoline
$3 billion in lost fed tax revenue in 2008
$5 billion in 2010
2008 Results:
• Reduced gasoline consumption ~4%
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by less than 1%
Source: US Congressional Budget Office, “The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions” April ‘09
30. The Ethanol Impact
• CBO: Diversion of cropland to corn ethanol contributed 10-15% of
the increase in food prices between April ’07 and April ’08
– Food expenditures rose between $700 million and $1.1 billion
– Corn, soybeans, meat, dairy
• Higher food prices drove up federal spending on SNAP (food
stamps) and child nutrition programs by $600-900 million in 2009
• Higher food price impact Consumer Price Index
– affects cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security, military and civilian
retirement (no dollar amount available)
Source: US Congressional Budget Office, “The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions” April ‘09
31. Ethanol’s Problems
• Problem with pipelines
– water affinity problem: pipeline condensation risks rendering it unusable as a transportation
fuel
– corrosion issues: high concentrations corrode, including internal stress corrosion cracking
(very hard to detect) and accelerated at weld joints
• Liability issues for fueling outlets
– Violation of local building or fire codes
– Equipment that may need to be modified or replaced, relabeling
• Gasoline blends with more than 10% ethanol may harm some conventional
vehicles
– FTC proposal labeling requirements for E10+ to warn may harm some conventional vehicles
– May void automobile warranties, creating potential liabilities for vehicle owners
• Use of E10+ blends in other gasoline-fueled equipment include:
– Engine operability problems, including loss of power, stalling and overheating
– Substantially shorted engine life due to enleaned air-fuel ratios
– Catastrophic engine failures
– Incompatibility with fuel system materials
– Increases in exhaust and evaporative emissions levels
Sources: Association of Oil Pipe Lines, Sierra Research
32. Ethanol in Atlanta
WSB-TV Atlanta reports:
• Roswell auto repair shop states $1000
to $3000/mo in fuel-related repairs
• Ga Association of Convenience Stores
says pumps won’t work with E15 and
must be recertified for insurance
purposes
• Colonial Pipeline (carries 70% of
Atlanta’s gasoline) won’t risk carrying
E15 – still has not pumped E10
• QuikTrip issued statement that it will not
sell E15 due to uncertainties
Yet Gov’t Pursues Higher Ethanol Blends
33. Despite Subsidies, Ethanol Bankruptcies
• Verasun Energy
– “World’s largest” ethanol producer with 14 refineries, 7% share corn ethanol ‘08
– Founded 2001, first plant operational in 2003, filed for chapter 11 Nov 3, ‘08
• Aventine Renewable Energy
– 10% share corn ethanol ‘08
– Founded 2003, filed for chapter 11 April 7, ‘09
• Pacific Ethanol
– Largest West Coast producer, four plants (three largely idled in 2009)
– Founded 2005, filed for chapter 11 May 18, 2009
Avg Sales Margin Margin with
Avg Production
2007 Price Per without $0.51
Cost Per Gallon
Gallon Subsidy Subsidy
Verasun $2.25 $1.99 ($.25) $.25
Pacific Ethanol $2.41 $2.15 ($.26) $.25
Aventine $2.22 $2.08 ($.14) $.37
Source: www.wikiinvest.com
34. Despite Subsidies, Ethanol Bankruptcies
• Range Fuels, Soperton GA (cellulosic ethanol)
– Feb ’07: $76 million federal grant
– GA: $6 million
– 2008: $80 million federal loan guarantee (Biorefinery Assistance Program)
– Total: More than $300 million in state, federal and private funding
– Timeline
• Broke ground in 2007
• Operations did not begin until 2010 due to delays and financial crisis
– Capacity of 10 million gallons, with plans to expand to 60 million gallons in 2011
• Produced one batch of methanol in August 2010, one batch of cellulosic ethanol
• January 2011 – laying off majority of workers, shuttering operations
Source: www.sustainablebusiness.com, www.ajc.com
35. Even Al Gore admits corn ethanol
subsidies should be ended, favoring
cellulosic ethanol (wood, waste or
grass)
Note: Competition for wood could have similar upward price pressure
impact on lumber, furniture, writing paper, cartons (corrugated boxes,
food packaging for cereal/frozen food), etc.
36. Cost of Loan Guarantees
• The federal government manages a loan guarantee portfolio of
approximately $1.1 trillion, consisting of more than 65 loan
guarantee programs
• DOE has $16 billion in loan guarantees for 15 renewable energy
projects (so far)
– White House advisors recommended cutting off federal loans for
renewable energy
When the federal government’s ability to repay its own loans is
questionable, does it make sense for them to guarantee loans?
Sources: NEI.org, WSJ – “U.S. Weighs Funding for Renewable Energy Projects” 11-3-10
37. When Federal Gov’t Lends Money
Validate
• Loans are not recorded as an expense in the budget this
• Records the interest payments as a surplus
• Records losses (loan defaults/bankruptcy filings) as a budget expense
• DOE changed its loan guarantee rules
– No longer requires the U.S. government to hold a “right of first lien”
– Means U.S. government doesn’t necessarily get paid before other debt holders
– Rule just says not be subordinate, no collateral required
If gov’t makes loans with taxpayer money to companies that
default, our dollars are gone!
Source: DOE, commonsensecapitalism.blogspot.com
38. Dept of Energy Budget
NOTE: American Recovery and Investment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided DoE with
$36.7 billion in projects and $6.5 billion in borrowing authority. NNSA – National
Nuclear Security Administration
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
39. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
More than 100,000 federal and contractor employees
Fiscal Year Budget 2011: $28.4 billion
2.8% increase vs 2010 and 17% more than 2008
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Objective: address climate change, be the world leader in
clean energy, and reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
40. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Double our electricity generation capacity from clean, renewable sources by 2012
• $500 million in credit subsidy to support $3-5 billion in projects
• Expands the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit by $5 billion
• Eliminates $2.7 billion in tax subsidies for oil, coal and gas ($38.8 billion
savings)
• Terminates ultra-deepwater exploration program ($50 million savings)
• Cancels planned expansion of Strategic Petroleum Reserve ($71 million)
• Increase research for “clean” coal technology
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
42. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Support advanced battery manufacturing capacity to deploy 500,000 plug-in
hybrids a year by 2015
• Make loans to auto and parts manufacturers to re-tool
In Obama’s SOTU address – 1 million electric vehicles by 2015
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
43. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Accelerate an aggressive, self-sustaining home energy efficiency effort that will
save energy and money for America’s families
• Reduce energy requirements and integrate renewable energy to allow
construction of “Net Zero Energy Homes” by 2020 and 2025
• “Market transformation” of lighting, windows, heating & air, refrigeration
• National Buildings Rating Program for energy retrofits
• Weatherization programs for low-income families
• GAO/DOE IG: waste, substandard workmanship, poor record keeping, fraud
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
44. Home Energy Scoring
• Pilot consumer program
• Provides a home energy score between 1
and 10
• Compares home against others in region
• includes recommendations to reduce energy
costs and “improve the comfort “ homes
• Workforce Guidelines and Training for Home
Energy Upgrades
• VP Biden – Green Jobs Program
• Federal and state financing programs
• FHA PowerSaver: low interest rate, long-term
financing backed by federal government
• State and local revolving funds
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
financing programs to attach the cost of
home energy improvements to a property
Danger: instead of an individual borrower
Poor audit skills, savings don’t materialize • Senior lien to mortgage in default
Inability to sell your home/cost to upgrade
Source: www.consumeraffairs.com – “Feds launch home energy scoring program” Nov 10 2010; www.whitehouse.gov
45. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
• Provide technical and financial support to restart the American nuclear power
industry
• $495 million for technology
• $500 million for subsidies
• Additional $36 billion in loan guarantee authority
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
46. Nuclear Waste Management
• Congress established a nuclear waste fee and Nuclear Waste Fund,
a federal trust, in 1982 to bankroll the DOE repository program
• DOE signed contracts with nuclear utilities in 1983
– DOE was to begin disposing of utility spent fuel in 1998, which did not
happen
– Utilities, in return, were supposed to fund the program via the waste fee.
• Collectively, nuclear utility customers pay roughly $750 million a
year into the Nuclear Waste Fund
– Waste fee is 1 mill (one-tenth of a cent) for every kWh of nuclear-
generated electricity sold
– Including interest, the fund now is worth about $25 billion
Source: Platts.com – “US court dismisses NARUC, NEI nuclear waste fee petitions” Dec 13, 2010
47. Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Disposal
• Established in 2002 as sole repository, $20 billion spent on construction
• Sec of Energy recommending closure of Yucca mountain
– “not a workable option”…” Nation needs a different solution”
– All funding for development is eliminated in FY 2011
– Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to develop a new strategy
• Attny General for Washington State is petitioning against the DOE
– Spent $12.8 billion for its waste treatment plant designed in conjunction with Yucca (50%
construction complete)
• Gov. Nikki Haley: “Then give us our money back”
– “The taxpayers of South Carolina have paid $1.2 billion to [develop a plan] to send our
nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain. I asked [Mr. Obama] if he would consider honoring the
federal commitment and allow waste to go to Yucca Mountain. His answer was no.”
• DOE does not have an alternate waste disposal program
48. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
• Detect, secure, and dispose of dangerous nuclear and radiological material worldwide within
four years
• Stockpile until “a world without nuclear weapons can be realized”
• Reduce the risk of proliferation by securing vulnerable materials: $2.7 billion +26%
• Agreements with foreign governments
• Radiation detection equipment at borders and megaports
• Construction of U.S. facilities for disposing weapons-grade plutonium
• $100 million of a $400 million U.S. commitment to help build plutonium disposition facilities in
Russia
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
49. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Maintain the safety, security, and effectiveness of the US nuclear deterrent
without underground nuclear testing
• $11.2 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration
• Invest in Nuclear Security Enterprise for stockpile management and
infrastructure: $7.0 billion: +9.8%
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
50. DOE Strategic Objectives and High Priority Goals
Non- Environ-
Renewable Electric Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Prolifera- mental
energy vehicles efficiency security
tion clean-up
Reduce Cold War legacy footprint by 40 percent by 2011
•Accelerate environmental cleanup: $6.0B to clean up cold war legacy sites
According to recent testimony by the GAO on ARRA, the DOE had
• No accurate assessment of job impact
•3,000 jobs “created” by ARRA spending are being eliminated
• No clear measure of how work would reduce environmental risk
• Life cycle costs savings could be 80% less than DOE estimated
Source: DOE Secretary Chu’s Presentation on FY2011 Budget
51. Smart Grid
Enabling
nationwide use Allowing the seamless
of plug-in hybrid integration of
electric vehicles renewable energy
sources like the wind
Ushering in a
Making large- new era of
scale energy consumer
storage a reality choice
Exploiting the use of
Making use of
green building
solar energy –
standards to help
24/hrs a day
“lighten the load”
Source: Dept of Energy Smart Grid Primer
52. Smart Grid As It Applies to Consumers
• 33% – 50% of your power bill funds “infrastructure mortgage”
• Consumers are “already comfortable with the concept of time-differentiated
service thanks to time-dependent cell phone rates and airline fares”
• “Consumers will have the opportunity to see what price they are paying for
energy before they buy – a powerful motivator toward managing their
energy costs by reducing electric use during peak periods”
• Consumer concerns: malfunction, overcharges, confidentiality, radiation,
supplier choice, plan options, type of device
Source: Dept of Energy Smart Grid Primer, theatlantic.com – “What's Really Wrong With the Smart Grid” Nov 19 2010
53. Crony Capitalism?
• Obama appointed the CEO of General Electric Co., Jeffrey Immelt, as the
head of his outside panel of economic advisers - President’s Council on
Jobs and Competitiveness
• Facts on GE
– Product lines: equipment for oil, gas, electric, wind, solar, water industries;
transmission grid, aviation and train engines, appliances, smart meters
– 44%of GE’s employees are based in the US (134K in 2009 )
– Has shuttered more than 25 US manufacturing plants and dropped 25,000 US
jobs, while building facilities and hiring employees overseas
– Credit division has $17 billion in impaired loans
– Received $11 billion in bailout money
– Spent $18 million on federal lobbying – majority for cap & trade
– Immelt quote: “I am a nut on China.”
– In mid-January, announced joint ventures and orders for Chinese rail, aviation
and energy projects that may yield $2.1 billion in sales, creating or retaining
about 5,000 jobs
Will General Electric become Government Electric?
54. Crony Capitalism?
• Cathy Zoi, former assistant secretary of DoE
– Obama appointee
– Served as the founding CEO of Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection
– Disclosure statement shows she owns between $250,000 and $500,000
worth of shares in Landis+Gyr
• Preferred provider of smart meters
– Her husband is a top executive at Serious Materials, a company who
makes green building materials
• Obama praised Serious Materials for opening a plant in Pittsburgh that makes energy
efficient windows for the weatherization program
• Biden visited Chicago location, touting its windows
• Sen Dick Durbin promoted company’s contribution to weatherization program
– Recently announced her resignation to work for George Soros venture
capital firm, Silver Lake Kraftwerk Fund, which will invest in green
energy firms
55. HOUSE
Chairman: Jon Wellinghoff
Secretary: Dr. Stephen Chu
(apptd by Obama)
Chairman: Fred Upton (R-MI) (apptd by Obama)
Oversees Committee on Oversees
FERC Energy & DOE
Commerce
National energy policy ; generation of power;
independent gov’t agency that regulates interstate reliability, transmission and ratemaking; siting;
power generation and transmission to provide general mgt of DOE and FERC
consumers with reliable, efficient and sustainable
energy at a reasonable cost
Chairman: Ed Whitfield (R-KY) Chairman: John Shimkus (R-IL)
Oversees Subcommittee Subcommittee
NERC on Energy on Environment
And And
Power Economy
Energy, power grid, & Clean Air Act Safe Water Drinking Act, nuclear waste,
Resource Conservation and Recovery Administrator: Lisa Jackson
Pres & Ceo: Gerry W. Cauley Act, Superfund, etc.
(apptd by Obama)
Oversees
EPA
Self regulatory org to ensure bulk power
reliability; Has legal authority to enforce
reliability standards
56. Chairman: Jon Wellinghoff Secretary: Dr. Stephen Chu
FERC Dept of Energy
Chairman: Fred Upton (R-MI) • Apptd by Obama
• Apptd by Obama House Energy & Commerce • Nobel Prize-Physics
• Rated “A” by Union of • Co-authored ban on
Concerned Scientists Oversees incandescent light bulb Oversees • Said “Coal is my worst
nightmare”
(left-wing political FERC • Been called a socialist by DOE • Conceived a “global
advocacy group) Glenn Beck and Rush glucose economy” where
• suggested US may Limbaugh oil from tropical plants is
never need new coal • Opposed cap & trade but used like oil is today
or nuclear energy not against reducing • Advocates painting roofs
plants emissions white
• Wants gas prices to rise
to “coax” consumers to
buy electric cars
• Formerly at Berkeley
Chairman: Ed Whitfield (R-KY) Chairman: John Shimkus (R-IL)
House SubCom Energy & Power House SubCom Energy & Environment
Oversees • “global warming denier”
• Embraces all forms of energy,
NERC including domestic resources • Called efforts to stop climate change as
• Wants delay of EPA’s clean air “the largest assault on democracy and
transport rules freedom in this country”
• Wants to require EPA to • Said because humans “breathe out
consider economic impact of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is not a
policies toxic emittant.”
Administrator: Lisa Jackson
EPA
Pres & Ceo: Gerry W. Cauley • Apptd by Obama
NERC • Said Georgians support EPA’s
• West Point grad activities because they voted to
• MS in nuclear engineering and MBA approve multiyear contracts for
• US Army Corp of Engineers energy efficiency
• Grid ops mgr at Electric Power Research Institute
57. SENATE
Chairman: Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
National Energy Policy, including international energy affairs
and emergency preparedness; nuclear waste policy
DOE
Agencies
Bonneville Power Administration
Chairman: Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Chairman: Tom McClintock (R-CA)
Oversees
Subcommittee Subcommittee DOE
on Energy on Water and Power Hydroelectric
Agencies
nuclear, coal, solar, oil & natural power marketing administrations,
gas; global climate change; energy energy development impacts on
conservation programs, utility water resources; groundwater
policy; strategic petroleum resources and management;
reserves; oil and gas pipelines hydroelectric power
58. SENATE
Chairman: Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Senate Energy & Natural Resources
• Supports Renewable Energy Standards (RES)
• Wants to “create demand” for clean energy
• Supports appliance efficiency regulations
• Supports creating energy efficiency regulations for commercial bldgs
Chairman: Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Chairman: Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Senate SubCom on Energy Senate SubCom on Water and Power
• Co-sponsor of S.482 (Energy • Supports tax incentives and direct
Tax Prevention Act), spending on green energy
• Supports TN mtntop mining bans • Supports SmartGrid and
• Bought an electric car renewables
• Supports nuclear • Wants to decrease consumption
• Supports reducing CO2 by 80% by
2050
59. Georgia Power
• Georgia Public Service Commission granted $2.1 billion rate
increase
– Planned investments to reduce power use during periods of peak demand
• Investment in Smart Grid
– Environmental projects, including replacement of a coal-fueled plant with cleaner
burning natural-gas generators, carbon capture, solar energy
– Cost to residential subscribers
• $10.76 a month 2011
• $3.08 in 2012
• $1.48 in 2013
• Also approved a separate charge on customer bills to cover interest
payments on money Georgia Power borrowed to expand its Vogtle
nuclear station
– A typical household will pay $3.73 a month starting Jan. 1
– Vogtle scheduled to begin producing power in 2016 and 2017
• Announced want to close two Georgia coal-fired plants due to cost of
compliance with environmental regulations effective in 2013 (1/2 GW)
Sources: Bloomberg.com “Southern Co. Gets $2.1 Billion Rate Increase Approval” – Dec 21, ’10; www.southernco.com
61. Promote Action in US Congress
• Support freeze of EPA climate rules
– Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (S. 482, H.R. 910) GTPI SUPPORTS
• Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from making regulations that consider the
emission of greenhouse gases to address climate change
• Oppose legislation that establishes Renewable/Clean Energy Standards
– Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is
working with Obama on legislative strategy (Murkowski)
• Oppose legislation that further regulates appliances
– S. 398: Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011
• sets all kinds of standards on appliances, video games, lighting, heating and air system
• Support repeal of ban on incandescent light bulbs
– Better Use of Light Bulbs Act (S.395, H.R. 91)
• Support legislation that repeals subsidies and volume-based mandates, i.e.,
ethanol, biofuels, green energy sources
• Require return of DOE’s unspent ARRA funds
– Only 1/3 of ARRA fund(all agencies) have been spent, and most of that unwisely
• Defund DOE and EPA
63. Conclusion
• Current “market transformation” energy policies
– Spend enormous sums on risky, inefficient forms of energy
– Reduce the supply of electricity
– Decrease the reliability of supply
– Increase energy prices
– Cost thousands of jobs
– Reduce consumer choice
– Violate free market principles
– Violation of Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution
• “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress
of the United States.”
Be Vigilant! Take Action!