Energy Policy

E08-xx, Preface to the Chinese edition of Winning the Oil Endgame (to be published later in 2008 by Tsinghua University Press in Beijing) (DOC-400k)

This English-language preface usefully synthesizes exciting developments in China's and America's journey beyond both oil and coal. (29 Feb 2008).

E06-02, How Innovative Technologies, Business Strategies, and Policies Can Dramatically Enhance Energy Security and Prosperity (PDF-400k)

This invited Senate Energy Committee testimony by RMI's CEO Amory Lovins tersely outlines how a least-cost national energy strategy can strengthen the United States and make the world safer — and how current national energy policy has unwittingly become a major threat to security (07 March 2006).

E05-04, Micropower Database: How Distributed Renewables and Cogeneration are Beating Nuclear Power Stations — Supporting Data, Methodology, and Graphs for E05-14 and E05-15

Updated (March 2008): Detailed Methodology for nuclear comparisons with supply-side competitors and Excel spreadsheet along with graph of Global Annual Additions of Electrical Generating Capacity. See also two additional graphs, showing Low- or No-Carbon Worldwide Electrical Output and Installed Electrical Generating Capacity (except large hydro).

Archive (July 2006): Excel spreadsheet along with graph of Global Annual Additions of Electrical Generating Capacity. See also two additional graphs, showing Low- or No-Carbon Worldwide Electrical Output and Installed Electrical Generating Capacity (except large hydro).

Archive (June 2005): Detailed Methodology for nuclear comparisons with supply-side competitors and Excel spreadsheet along with graph of Global Annual Additions of Electrical Generating Capacity. See also two additional graphs, showing Low- or No-Carbon Worldwide Electrical Output and Installed Electrical Generating Capacity (except large hydro).

E04-10, Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program (PDF-160k)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is at a critical juncture. Setting the wrong policy will not only lastingly harm the national interest in saving lives, oil, and emissions. It will also degrade the competitive prospects of U.S. automakers by encouraging them to make vehicles that increasingly are unsaleable abroad. Many policymakers in Europe, Japan, China, and Canada don't share the view that light vehicles, except perhaps the heaviest, must stay heavy for safety (or that CO₂ isn't important). As U.S. OEMs struggle with eroding market share and strive to globalize their operations, further perverse U.S. regulatory incentives are the last thing they need. Amory Lovins's letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (26 April 2004).

S03-03, We Can Take Politics Out of Energy Policy, Dallas Morning News (PDF-110k)

In a Dallas Morning News (www.dallasnews.com) op-ed (18 May 2003), President Reagan's National Security Advisor, Robert C. McFarlane, and RMI's CEO Amory Lovins summarize how the National Energy Policy Initiative's consensus-based process (www.nepinitiative.org) can help lead the U.S. out of the political thickets and to an effective policy framework (07 July 2003).

E02-16, Scenario Analysis of Alternative Electric Resource Options for the City of San Francisco (PDF-300k)

RMI is assisting the City of San Francisco in the development of data, analysis and program design in support a comprehensive "energy resource investment strategy" (ERIS). The ERIS prioritizes the City's electric resource options based on cost, performance and environmental impact. The options include energy efficiency, co-generation, solar and wind power, as well as conventional gas-fired generation and new transmission lines. RMI is also helping the City to design policies and programs to improve energy efficiency and harness distributed and renewable energy resources, while insuring an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for its residents. In the first phase of this work, RMI prepared this scenario analysis for inclusion in the preliminary San Francisco Electricity Resource Plan. More detailed analysis and program design is on-going (2002).

E02-11, Fuzzy Math, Foreign Affairs (PDF-44k)

The January/February 2002 issue of Foreign Affairs, published the letter "Fuzzy Math," (p. 233) from Lucian B. Platt, Professor of Geology Emeritus, Bryn Mawr College, responding to Amory and Hunter Lovins's Foreign Affairs article on ANWR drilling. This paper includes Professor Platt's letter followed by the Lovinses' response (February 2002).
(correspondence about E01-04, "Fool's Gold in Alaska" below)

E02-07, Accelerating Renewables: Expanding the Policy and Marketing Toolkit (PDF-1.7 MB)

This keynote presentation was given to a meeting of the American Renewable Energy Council. It suggests a dozen new ways — beyond traditional price and regulatory instruments — for speeding the adoption of renewable energy. Keynote given by Amory Lovins (July 2002).

E02-01, Mobilizing Energy Solutions, The American Prospect (PDF-52k)

America is at war. The economy is down. Global prosperity, stability, and environment are at risk. Domestic politics are reverting to gridlock, driven by the coming battle for both houses of Congress. And energy policy, strongly polarized, is back on the agenda. This article by Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins envisions a fresh, trans-ideological, consensus-based approach to U.S. energy policy. It first appeared in The American Prospect, 28 January 2002. This is the first article in a two-part series. The second article, E02-01a, "Energy Forever", appeared in the 11 February 2002 issue of The American Prospect (11 February 2002). Written with the generous support of the Overbrook Foundation, J.M. Kaplan Fund, and Compton Foundation.

E02-01a, Energy Forever, The American Prospect (PDF-48k)

Energy systems designed to be efficient, decentralized, and diversified are what national security demands, the public wants, and the market is ready to supply. This article by Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins first appeared in The American Prospect, 11 February 2002. This is the second article in a two-part series. The first article, E02-01, Mobilizing Energy Solutions, appeared in the 28 January 2002 issue of The American Prospect (28 January 2002). Written with the generous support of the Overbrook Foundation, J.M. Kaplan Fund, and Compton Foundation.

U01-13, The Hidden Economic Benefits of Distributed Generation (PDF-2.1 MB)

This PowerPoint presentation is entitled "Small Is Profitable: The Hidden Economic Benefits of Distributed Generation (and Other Distributed Resources)." This presentation was given at the Australian EcoGeneration Conference (13 March 2002).

E01-04, Fool's Gold in Alaska — annotated, Foreign Affairs (PDF-980k)

This version of the Foreign Affairs article is fully annotated by the author. The unannotated article appeared in Foreign Affairs, www.foreignaffairs.org (July/August 2001). Also see E02-11, "Fuzzy Math," correspondence about "Fool's Gold in Alaska." Foreign Affairs.

E01-03, Fool's Gold in Alaska — original, Foreign Affairs (PDF-114k)

Proposed drilling for oil beneath the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is claimed to provide economic and energy-security benefits in exchange for environmental of disputed magnitude. In fact, the oil drilling couldn't enhance prosperity or security, but would compromise both. However, far larger, cheaper and faster alternatives, notably the more efficient use of oil, could achieve all three goals, and would make a better cornerstone for national energy strategy. This article, by Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins, appeared in Foreign Affairs, www.foreignaffairs.org (July/August 2001). Also see E02-11, "Fuzzy Math," correspondence about "Fool's Gold in Alaska." Foreign Affairs.

E01-20, Amory Lovins's presentation to the Commonwealth Club (PDF-121k)

What happened, and what didn't happen, to California electricity? Amory Lovins's nationally NPR-broadcast address to the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco briskly demystifies this tangled tale. (Lightly edited for easier reading. A minimally-corrected "raw" transcript of "Electricity Solutions for California" is posted at Commonwealth Club website) (11 July 2001).

E01-07, An Eight-Fold Way Towards Faster Energy Efficiency (PDF-1.0MB)

Keynoting the June 2001 Summer Study of the European Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Amory Lovins presented a new synthesis of eight ways to accelerate energy efficiency. Such a diverse, trans-ideological portfolio of policy approaches should work better and faster than just prices and regulation (12 June 2001).

U01-02, California Electricity: Facts, Myths, and National Lessons (PDF-550k)

This PowerPoint presentation is entitled "California Electricity: Facts, Myths, and National Lessons." These handout graphics for Amory Lovins's presentation to the Commonwealth Club were slightly updated for a Worldwatch Institute symposium held eleven days later in Aspen, Colorado (22 July 2001).