Environment Paper

Running head: NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY 1

NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY 5

National Energy Policy

Danielle Schummer

G328/EVR3410 Human Uses of the Environment

The government should establish a national energy policy

The establishment of a national energy policy is mandatory because the strategies and policies of the sector of national energy will be regular with the overall macro-economic policies of the government's directives like the Medium-Term Strategy and National Vision Plan (NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY, 2010). Even under a reign with a significant private participation in the sector of energy, the Government shall keep on playing an essential role by establishing a legal foundation for the whole sector. For this reason, the Government shall consistently evaluate the outcomes of its involvement and adjust the policy, strategy, and the legislation as far as energy is concerned (BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER, 2012). Consequently, it is assumed that the entire economy will gain from cost-effective energy supply, protection of various groups of customers, and reduction of negative atmospheric effects.

Constructing a Policy

· The government should validate a legislation that is “multi-pollutant” to create an adaptable market-based program to particularly decrease and cap nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury emissions from generators of electric power (National Energy Policy Development Group, 2001).

· Escalate exports of atmospheric, friendly, market-ready United States technology that foster a clean environment and improve energy efficiency.

· Execute new criteria to decrease truck emissions at truck stops.

· Direct the administration of Federal Emergency Management to prepare for possible emergencies related to energy.

· Reinforce the energy framework of North American Energy to accelerate and expand gas and oil pipelines, investments of energy across borders, and electricity grid connections by expediting and streamlining expediting permitting process with Canada and Mexico.

Renewable Energy

Stable Energy Prices

Decrease or increase in fossil fuel supply has a direct influence on inflation (Conserve Energy Future, 2017). The cost of energy production from a renewable source of energy depends on the amount of money spent on infrastructure as opposed to inflated natural resource cost, which undoubtedly means one can anticipate more stable prices if energy bulk is generated from renewable sources.

Reliability

Constant sunshine and wind guarantee renewable energy reliability which by far exceeds fossil fuel reliability. If the source of fossil fuel runs dry, the entire procedure must be moved. Provided they are in place, most of the stations dealing with renewable energy have a permanent and constant fuel source. As opposed to fossil fuels, in which supply is prone to be affected by strikes, wars, political instability, and trade disputes, renewable sources of energy are not affected by such cons. The wind blows, and the sun shines globally, so every country can utilize that energy and generate clean energy on a large scale.

Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Nearly all the plans concerning renewable energy stress on having much lower carbon footprints, more than any available options on fossil fuels. Renewable sources of energy guarantee a healthier environment since they tend not to pollute it with carbon monoxide as well as any other toxic gases produced by fossil fuels. Also, they cannot decrease the natural resources and can be preserved for a long period. However, despite an emphasis on renewable sources of energy and its advantages, there exist a couple of disadvantages. They include;

The high cost of development:

A lot of expenses are involved in constructing stations of renewable energy in both manufacturing and research of the components required for these stations to be successful. The known methods of fossil fuel use are less expensive since all the construction and manufacturing processes are readily placed.

Large Area Requirement

Another disadvantage of renewable energy is the fact that wind farms and solar panels must be set up to generate a large amount of energy. For this reason, a significant portion of land is required for the production of such an amount of energy, especially on a large scale.

References

BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER. (2012). The Executive Branch and National Energy Policy: Time for Renewal. Washington DC.

Conserve Energy Future. (2017). Renewable Energy Pros and Cons.

National Energy Policy Development Group. (2001). Reliable, Affordable, and Environmentally Sound Energy for America’s Future. Washington DC: Seal of the President of the United States.

NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY. (2010). Saint Lucia National Energy Policy.