Alternative Energy Policies (USA vs Brazil)

For thee most recent assignment in class we were asked to read 2 articles on policies about energy consumption in the United States and Brazil. These policies addressed issues both countries have with depleting resources, rising costs of fuels, and ways to start the change to more renewable energy sources.

The US government has been focusing on producing more oil rather than importing it or depending on foreign countries. We looked at a few graphs in class that the Obama Administration posted about gas usage in the US. I was surprised to see how many of the graphs focused on the Unites States goal of producing more oil rather than focusing on a change to alternative energy. The graphs were so centrally focused on oil oil oil and had one little section about alternative energy. On top of that the graphs were definitely created to give the figures that American would want to see at a quick glance. If you go into the units of them and put them in perspective of the totals than the graphs began to take on a new meaning. It seems to me that this is not the best way to go about securing our future in energy and our government should be splitting its focus between producing oil domestically AND making a switch to alternative energy. If we start to put our profits back into research for more renewable energy sources than we can continue to be independent from foreign countries but also have less worry when it comes to the depletion of our fossil fuels. We can become a leader in cleaner energy and begin to profit economically using renewable and cleaner energy.

 Right now the US has policies that cut CO2 emissions and set standards for old and new power plants. One of the largest concentrated sources of carbon emission in the United States is power plants. Logically one of the first steps in the United States’ energy policies is to reduce the carbon emission coming from the power plants. The Obama administration proposed a carbon pollution standard for all new power plants and now all of the old power plants as well. Obviously, these two standards are different. If you want to see effective change then the change must be gradual. The power plants already in place would not be able to make such radical changes so quickly so they must have time to get to the same standards set for the new power plants.This policy will work with both the state and local governments and help them to cut the emissions of their states and towns. If you can work on smaller scales than the responsibilities are spread out a little more and not just focused with the federal government. Another major policy the US has in place is to help the environment by setting standards for car emissions from Models between the years 2014-2018. This policy affects the larger vehicles such as heavier trucks, buses  and vans. It will reduce the US use of 530 million barrels of oil and 270 metric tons of greenhouse gasses. The Obama administration is developing a plan for the post 2018 Models so that these positive influences can continue and possibly get better. It also has regulations in place that passenger cars must have 54.5 miles/gallon by 2025.  The US already has the toughest standards for passenger cars and will continue to make them tougher to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and the carbon emissions. Finally, one of the clearest, most cost efficient, and all around the most logical policies the US has is reducing energy bills for American families and American businesses. This is done by using energy efficient means of supplying energy to the families and businesses. There are three major avenues the Obama administration has taken to support this policy: establishing new goals for energy efficient standards, reducing barriers to investment in energy efficiency, and expanding the president’s better building challenge. Each of these smaller goals can be achieved by setting new standards for not only appliances in homes but for federal buildings as well, helping to subsidize and facilitate loans or money needed for the upfront costs of going green, and helping homes and businesses all over the country become at least 20% more efficient. With this policy it allows Americans to save money in the long run and cut emissions in their private and business lives.

Now we move onto what Brazil has been up to and how they are attacking their energy problems. Brazil has modeled some of their policies after America by also trying to make more efficient appliances. This policy forces all of these products to meet a certain standard instead allowing for the consumers to have a choice of different grades of products. The national electricity conservation program provides recognition and promotion to the better tested and rated products which show the consumers the best products to get. They have developed ways to grade and test the products so that consumers can know how energy efficient the products they buy are! Another way that Brazil has similar policies to the US is policies about controlling the emissions that power plants expel by setting standards for new power plants. Until recently natural gas wasn't a viable option for Brazil to use to supply their power plants because of access to natural gas. However, the construction of the gas powered plants has been slow because of uncertainties in the regulations of them. There is also some uncertainty of what types of planets should be built, combines cycle or simple cycle plants. The combined cycle plants are more efficient but cost more to build them and take longer. In the future it may become a regulation for them to be combined cycle to meet efficiency standards set by the government. Yet another policy that Brazil has started to put in place is expanding the production and use of ethanol fuel. The demand for ethanol fueled vehicles will go down unless the government can help stimulate the purchases of new ethanol vehicles. This means the government must promote the supply and demand of ethanol if they want it to be a leading fuel source in their economy. If the government could use tax incentives or start buying a reserve of ethanol to have for their economy it may encourage not only ethanol fueled cars but distilleries as well. They can also use ethanol and mix it with diesel which will fuel cars without destroying the engine. This would allow for a more immediate use of ethanol and give the vehicle industry more time to create ethanol fueled cars.


What I really think of all these policies is that are they enough to make a real change? Can these changes make the difference they need to without an overall attitude change of the people? As much as the government can regulate the people it all comes down to people wanting to make a change and caring enough to make a change. We also need to ask ourselves what the best way to help these changes come along is: private or public? Are the changes we need to see going to happen faster with a competitive private market or should it be funded and controlled by the government? I know we don't have all the answers yet but some day soon it'll be an issue that if forced upon us and a question that we need a quick answer for.