Many have lamented that the United States is falling behind -- in health care, education, admiration and goodwill, and so much more. As current US expenditures on energy research are a shadow of what they were under Jimmy Carter, no surprise that innovative energy approaches is another arena where US claims of leadership are increasingly hollow.
The European Commission will call next week for "a new industrial revolution" in the energy sector to boost competition, protect the climate and ensure security of supply
To one who has worked hard to Energize America, it feels like at least some policymakers have been reading our discussions and concepts. Economic benefits ... reduce Global Warming ... and Energy Security ... Energize Europe!
call for cutting carbon dioxide emissions further, increasing energy from renewable sources and curtailing the powers of large energy companies.
In EU to Urge "New Industrial Revolution" in Energy, we learn that on 10 January, the European Commission will
call for cutting carbon dioxide emissions further, increasing energy from renewable sources and curtailing the powers of large energy companies.
As laid out in Energize America -- but on the other side of the Atlantic --
The .... priority should be to combat climate change, promote jobs and economic growth and reduce ... reliance on energy imports ...
While the words might not be identical, there is a pure overlap in terms of focus and prioritizations between this leaked draft of the coming EC decision and what the Energize America team hopes to see happen in the United States.
"This means transforming Europe into a highly efficient and low CO2 energy economy by catalysing a new industrial revolution, accelerating the change to low carbon growth and, over the period of years, dramatically increasing the amount of local, low emission energy".
Note what this implies:
- "Highly efficient" -- drive toward the most efficient products; smart growth; well-built infrastructure; etc to drive out waste from the entire energy system-of-system process.
- "low CO2 energy economy" -- move away from fossil fuels
- "new industrial revolution" -- is this attempting to spark Europe into a centerpiece of the future world economy by capturing a (if not "the") leading role on energy?
- "low carbon growth" -- as per Energize America, "a sustainable and prosperous energy future"
- "dramatically increasing the amount of local, low emission energy" -- distributed power from renewable sources reduces pollution, improves the power system's ability to withstand shocks (manmade or natural ... or, a mixing of the two derived from Global Warming), and increases the potential for more player/organizations to participate in the energy delivery market (from the individual homeowner with solar panels or a windmill to nuclear power plant operators)
This is not a bad mix of objectives within that one paragraph.
Not surprisingly, everyone seems to agree that the EU should target cutting greenhouse gases ... agreement in principle at least:
The draft leaves blank spaces for the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, which are widely blamed for global warming, and for raising renewable energy production.
Just three days before the full Commission meeting, still serious holes to be filled. And, the holes that aren't there might represent serious holes in this policy.
The draft said global emissions should be halved by 2050 compared with levels in 1990 and that the EU should show world leadership on the issue.
As per Step It Up 2007 (and others), perhaps 80% reduction by 2050 is a better target -- 80% of current emission levels, globally, today, rather than 50% of a specific nation's 1990 levels.
The draft from just last week shows a tendency to kick the can on many issues and not seek to assert EC power over the member states as
The draft also said it should be up to national governments to decide whether to produce nuclear energy.
This draft derives from a process that involved the Green Paper: A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. From that site:
Europe is entering a new energy landscape. Our import dependency is 50% today, and certain to rise. Our hydrocarbon reserves are running down. Energy is becoming more expensive. Our infrastructure needs improving; EUR 1000 billion is needed over the next 20 years to meet expected energy demand and replace ageing infrastructure. And global warming has already made the world 0.6°C hotter.
These challenges are common to all of Europe. They require a European response. At the end of 2005, European Heads of State and Government reunited at Hampton Court (United Kingdom) call for a true European Energy Policy.
That is why the European Commission published on 8 March 2006 a Green Paper on developing a common, coherent European Energy Policy. If the EU can take a common approach on energy, and articulate it with a common voice, Europe can lead the global energy debate. The Green Paper will help the European Union lay the foundations for secure, competitive and sustainable energy.
The EU shows a leadership attention to the issue. There is real focus on developing a holistic approach to energy challenges. Recognizing that there are economic, social, security, environmental, and other impacts of not having a coherent policy. Focusing not just on power generation (even with a move toward sustainable (renewable?) power), but also with real efforts on energy efficiency -- both in the overall energy system and at the individual level.
The ACTION PLAN FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Realising the potential - Saving 20% by 2020 has, for example, large displays at community centers and such throughout Europe. Countries are taking real steps toward driving energy efficiency -- an example, as of 1 November 2006, home sales in France require an energy audit.
In other words, the coming EC announcement is not a flash in the pan in terms of EU/EC efforts on energy and changing the path for Europe.
Rather than Energizing America, America watches as Europe Energizes for the 21st century and beyond.
NOTES:
- Consider joining Daily Kos Environmentalists.
- And ... Imagine Life Differently ... Imagine it Better ... And Seek to create that better life