1. Energy Policy
Public Policy

2. Public Policy
intro
How does the government attempt to protect its resources and the environment?

3. Environmental Policy
Public Policy

4. Environmental Policy Policies Environmental Policy
The goal is to protect the environment for future generations while interfering as little as possible with the freedom of people or efficiency of the economy
In 1970, Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act
This was the beginning of comprehensive environmental policy in the US

5. Environmental Policy Policies NEPA
The NEPA forced agencies to provide environmental impact statements to the govt about any project or proposal
The US was the first country to impose this requirements on its government
These force agencies to consider their impact and at least look into less invasive alternatives to their plans
The problem with the statements is that they do not prevent an agency from doing its project
They don’t stop harmful projects, only force them to slow down & consider

6. Environmental Policy Policies EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency was created by Nixon in 1970
It consolidated other environmental programs into one big department
The EPA has quasi legislative “rule making” power and the ability to
enforce laws & settle disputes
It is now the nation’s largest independent regulatory agency

7. It has reduced overall air pollution by more than 10%
Environmental Policy
Policies
Clean Air Act
In 1970, this gave the EPA the power to protect & improve the nation’s air
It forced the Dept of Transportation to begin reducing emissions in cars
This law is a mandate. The federal govt announced it, but it is up to the states to do most of the work implementing it.
It has reduced overall air pollution by more than 10%

8. Environmental Policy Policies Water Pollution Control Act
This is similar to the Clean Air Act.
This law is a mandate. The federal govt announced it, but it is up to the states to do most of the work implementing it.
It focuses on preventing discharge into waterways, but it cannot prevent
“runoff” pollution
The result of implementation of this was a dramatic decrease in water pollution

9. Environmental Policy Policies Land Conservation
The govt took a more active role in preserving untouched lands in the 1900s
The National Park System was created in 1916 to preserve wilderness
There are now 378 national parks and 155 national forests across the country
4% of all US land is designated as protected wilderness

10. Environmental Policy
Policies
Land Conservation

11. Environmental Policy Policies Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973
It requires the govt to actively protect the animals on the list regardless of economic consequences for the areas that are home to the species
There have been more than 1000 animal species added to the list and 28 have been “delisted” after populations recovered

12. Environmental Policy Policies Superfund
In 1980 the Superfund was created by adding a tax to chemical products
It forces those that cause the pollution to bear the burden of paying for clean up of toxic waste sites
The tax went in to a trust fund to pay for the cleanup. The tax ended in The trust fund ran out in 2003
Now we pay for the cleanup instead of the polluters!
We do require “cradle to grave” tracking of toxic chemicals & mandate disposal type

13. Environmental Policy Policies Nuclear Waste
The govt has tons of nuclear waste that needs to be carefully disposed of
Congress created a plan to bury it all at Yucca Mountain in the 1980s but never implemented this plan
“Not In My Backyard” resistance at local levels makes this hard to deal with

14. Environmental Policy Policies Nuclear Waste
The govt has tons of nuclear waste that needs to be carefully disposed of
Congress created a plan to bury it all at Yucca Mountain in the 1980s but never implemented this plan
“Not In My Backyard” resistance at local levels makes this hard to deal with

15. Global Warming
Public Policy

16. Scientists predict the earth will be 2 to 6 degrees warmer by 2100
Environmental Policy
Policies
Global Warming
Scientists predict the earth will be 2 to 6 degrees warmer by 2100
If ice caps melt and sea levels rise, the US stands to deal with economic devastation on its coasts
Global warming can impact weather patterns – causing harsher weather – forcing the government to respond more

17. Scientists predict the earth will be 2 to 6 degrees warmer by 2100
Environmental Policy
Policies
Global Warming
Scientists predict the earth will be 2 to 6 degrees warmer by 2100
If ice caps melt and sea levels rise, the US stands to deal with economic devastation on its coasts
Global warming can impact weather patterns – causing harsher weather – forcing the government to respond more

18. Environmental Policy Policies Kyoto Protocol
In 1997, 150 nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The goal was to reduce it to below 1990 levels by the year Very few reached their goal
President Clinton agreed to it, but never sent the treaty to the Senate
President Bush completely renounced the US participation in the plan.

19. Environmental Policy Policies Kyoto Protocol
In 1997, 150 nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The goal was to reduce it to below 1990 levels by the year Very few reached their goal
President Clinton agreed to it, but never sent the treaty to the Senate
President Bush completely renounced the US participation in the plan.

20. Environmental Policy Policies Cap & Trade
Obama’s first plan was a proposed cap and trade system
Each company would have an emission allowance. If they polluted less, they would have “credits”
Companies could sell their credits to other companies that needed to pollute more
This would give companies freedom to choose how to produce
This would reward companies who were able to reduce emissions

21. Environmental Policy Policies Paris Climate Agreement
A 2014 agreement negotiated by 196 countries at a conference in Paris
The goal is to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees, which is seen as a “no turning back point”
Each country gets to make its own goals and determine its own plan
No enforcement or punishment – but each country does its best to reach goals
Obama agreed to it in 2014, Trump announced his withdrawal in 2017.

22. Energy Policy
Public Policy

23. 82% of our energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas
Energy Policy
Policies
Energy Policy
America depends on the availability of energy. It must protect its access to these sources of energy
82% of our energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas

24. 82% of our energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas
Energy Policy
Policies
Energy Policy
America depends on the availability of energy. It must protect its access to these sources of energy
82% of our energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas

25. Energy Policy Policies Coal Our most abundant source of energy is coal
90% of our energy resources are in coal deposits
Even though its our most abundant, it is the dirtiest
Interests of environmentalists and coal mining states need to be balanced

26. Energy Policy Policies Petroleum & Gas
Natural gas & oil are cleaner than coal but still cause pollutants
25% of our electricity comes from natural gas sources now
The US imports more than half of the oil it consumes

27. Energy Policy Policies Petroleum & Gas
Natural gas & oil are cleaner than coal but still cause pollutants
25% of our electricity comes from natural gas sources now
The US imports more than half of the oil it consumes

28. Energy Policy Policies Oil & National Security
Depending on oil exports makes the US at the mercy of other nations
OPEC put an oil embargo on the US in the 1970s and it crippled the economy
The US puts much of its oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The oil is stored to use in the event of another oil shortage in the US

29. Bigly Ideas
Public Policy

30. Public Policy Wrap Up Economics vs Environment Environmental Policies
Energy Sources in the US
Global Warming
Focus on these things: