Technical Report

NREL/TP-6A2-45046

March 2009

A Comparative Review of a Dozen 

National Energy Plans: Focus on

Renewable and Efficient Energy

Jeffrey Logan and Ted L. James
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393

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Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Contract No. DE-AC36-08-GO28308

Technical Report

NREL/TP-6A2-45046

March 2009

A Comparative Review of a Dozen 

National Energy Plans: Focus on

Renewable and Efficient Energy

Jeffrey Logan and Ted L. James

Prepared under Task No. SAO7.9C50
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iii

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The authors are grateful for the guidance and 

helpful input from Doug Arent, Bill Babiuch, Monisha Shah, and Dan Bilello of the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); and David Rogers from DOE. We 

would also like to thank the individuals who reviewed various drafts of this report, 

including Trevor Houser (Peterson Institute of International Economics), Carla Frisch 

(DOE), Anne Jakle (Sentech Inc.), Rebecca Garland (American Association for the 

Advancement of Science – AAAS – Science and Technology Policy Fellow at EERE), 

Austin Brown (AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at EERE), and Avi 

Gopstein (AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at EERE). The authors also 

offer their thanks to Michelle Kubik in the NREL Technical Communications Office for 

providing editorial support.
iv

List of Acronyms 

ARPA-E – Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (analogous to the Defense 

Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA)

CAP – Center for American Progress

CCS – Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)

CHP – Combined heat and power

CNG – Compressed natural gas

DOE – Department of Energy

EEI – Edison Electric Institute

EERE – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

EIA – Energy Information Administration (DOE)

EISA – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

EPAct 2005 – The Energy Policy Act of 2005

ESCO – Energy service company

FEMP – Federal Energy Management Program

FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

GHG – Greenhouse gas

GW – Gigawatt (1 billion watts)

HVAC – Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

IEA – International Energy Agency (Paris)

ITC – Investment tax credit

IGCC – Integrated gasification combined cycle

LCOE – Levelized cost of electricity
v

MPG – Miles per gallon 

NGO – Nongovernment organization

NSPS – New source performance standard

OCS – Outer continental shelf

OIRA – Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (Office of Management and 

Budget)

PHEV – Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

PTC – Production tax credit

PV – Photovoltaics

R&D – Research and development

RD&D – Research, development, and deployment

RPS – Renewable portfolio standard
vi

Executive Summary

Dozens of groups have submitted energy, environmental, and economic recovery plans 

for consideration by the Obama administration and the 111th Congress. This report 

provides a comparative analysis of 12 national proposals, focusing especially on energy 

efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) market and policy issues.

Many of the plans considered here call for transformative change, citing decades of 

inconsistent, inattentive, or otherwise failed national energy policy. Almost universally, 

plans call for an expansion of clean energy research and development, EE and RE 

deployment, and climate change preparedness. But sharp differences also exist regarding 

domestic drilling, nuclear power, carbon mitigation, and the role of government. 

The energy plans place different levels of importance on energy security, environmental 

protection, and economic revitalization – the “Three Es.” Some of these differences are 

due simply to politics and others to the timing of the unfolding economic crisis. Plans 

designed to address economic recovery through green jobs are in ascendancy, while those 

focusing on energy security are receiving less attention due to the collapse in energy 

prices and demand. Some plans reflect their visions in detailed blueprints of action, while 

others offer sparse policy direction.

The plans provide hundreds of specific recommendations, some challenging to 

implement. Doubling wind power output by 2012 – as recently called for by the Obama 

administration – would likely require repeating the installation of 8 gigawatts (GW) of 

new wind capacity for each of the next three years. Recent changes in renewable energy 

incentives in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act could promote significant 

new investments, despite the economic slowdown. Other recommendations, such as 

building 10 carbon capture and sequestration plants, face greater challenges and 

unknowns.

Evaluating the implementation challenges in most recommendations often depends on 

policy design details that the plans do not address. One plan, for example, calls for

“100% clean electricity within 10 years.” Such an achievement would require all coaland gas-fired power plants to stop generating before their investment costs have been 

recovered. How generators would be compensated for their stranded costs is not 

considered in the plan. Many other recommendations have been proposed including a 

25% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2025, rapid deployment of plug-in hybrid 

electric vehicles (PHEVs), and various cap-and-trade policies. Additional analysis is 

required in most areas to evaluate implementation challenges under different policy 

design assumptions. 

Integrating short-term economic recovery with longer-term priorities such as carbon 

mitigation is possible, but often not without trade-offs. Some short-term measures may 

contradict longer-term objectives (highway reconstruction and “sustainability”), while

overlapping jurisdiction could lead to unintended consequences from other policy 

interactions (a national RPS combined with cap-and-trade legislation). Evaluating the 

nuances of these tradeoffs goes beyond the scope of this report.
vii

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................iii

List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................... iv

Executive Summary........................................................................................................... vi

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................. vii

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1

2. Comparing Plan Characteristics...................................................................................... 3

A. Quantitative Targets................................................................................................... 4

B. Policy Measures....................................................................................................... 11

3. Key Findings................................................................................................................. 14

References......................................................................................................................... 17

Appendix A – Plan Summaries......................................................................................... 19

Appendix B – List of Selected National Energy Plans..................................................... 32

Appendix C – Additional Selected Policy Recommendation Examples.......................... 36
viii

List of Figures

Figure 1. Illustration of the “Three E” geography and momentum as of early 2009 ......... 1

Figure 2. Comparison of selected renewable energy targets in the plans........................... 6

Figure 3. Selected energy efficiency targets compared to the EIA baseline ...................... 8

Figure 4. Fuel economy for new passenger vehicles under the plans................................. 9

Figure 5. U.S. DOE budget authority for RD&D ............................................................. 10

List of Tables

Table 1. Selected Energy, Environmental, and Economic Revitalization Plans ................ 2

Table 2. High-level Characterization of the Energy Plans ................................................. 3

Table 3. Examples of Vision Targets Proposed in Energy Plans ....................................... 5

Table 4. Job Growth Intensity per Investment of Federal Spending .................................. 9

Table 5. Examples of Policy Mechanisms Proposed in Energy Plans.............................. 12
1

1. Introduction

Policy makers have witnessed a surge of advice on how to address increasing energy 

prices, oil import dependency, and greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, the advice 

has become tailored to the pronounced financial and economic crisis affecting the globe. 

This paper summarizes recommendations of 12 formalized energy plans (which are listed 

in Table 1) and compares the targets that some propose. It also evaluates selected 

implementation challenges for RE and EE technologies targeted in the plans.

Only those plans released in the second half of 2008 are considered, because the 

economic downturn, elections, and collapse of energy prices have redrawn the political 

and economic landscape. To maintain a manageable evaluation, we limited our scope to a 

dozen diverse and high-profile plans. 

The energy plans evaluated here acknowledge that energy security, environmental 

protection, and economic revitalization – the “Three Es” – are critical issues, even if they 

are valued differently. Figure 1 illustrates how the Three Es might overlap at a point in 

time. Beginning in late 2008, political momentum began shifting away from energy 

security as energy prices fell, while it built for economic stimulus as the economy 

increasingly faltered (see arrows in figure). Perception of where the center lies has shifted 

since the economic meltdown.

Figure 1. Illustration of the “Three E” geography and momentum as of early 2009

The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 compares and contrasts vision targets for the 

plans as well as the policy recommendations, (if available) to achieve them. Section 3

summarizes key findings from this evaluation. A brief one-page summary of each plan is 

found in Appendix A. A more complete list of energy and environmental plans for the 

new administration and Congress is in Appendix B. A more complete list of policy 

recommendations in the 12 plans is included in Appendix C.

Energy

Security

Environmental 

Protection

Economic 

Recovery
2

Table 1. Selected Energy, Environmental, and Economic Revitalization Plans

Plan Title Author 

(Plan Abbreviation)

2008 

Issue 

Date

Summary Feature

Repower America (The Gore Plan) We Campaign (Repower) July 100% nonfossil power in 10 years

Pickens Plan T. Boone Pickens (Pickens) July 20% wind energy in 10 years, with offset natural gas 

used in vehicles

The New Apollo Program Apollo Alliance (Apollo) Sept. $500 billion over 10 years to create 5 million green 

energy jobs

A National Strategy for Energy Security Securing America’s Future 

Energy (SAFE)

Sept. Develop substitutes for oil and reduce demand over 

decades

Green Recovery Center for American Progress 

(CAP)

Sept. $100 billion economic stimulus over two years for green 

jobs and sustainability

A 100-Day Energy Action Plan Council on Competitiveness 

(Compete)

Sept. Presidential leadership for shared, global, sustainable 

energy

New Energy for America Obama-Biden (NEA) Nov. $150 billion energy-climate plan through 2025

Transition to Green 26 Environmental NGOs 

(Green)

Nov. Restoration of environmental protection as a principal of 

governance

A Climate Plan for the New Administration Justinian (Justinian) Nov. Executive Branch climate policy in 13 steps; no 

legislative action required

Clean Energy 2030 (Version 2.0) Google.org (Google) Nov. Detailed targets for clean energy by 2030

A Transition Plan for Securing America’s 

Energy Future

U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

(Commerce)

Nov. More domestic fossil, nuclear, renewable energy; more

climate study, but no call for mitigation

Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery 

Initiative

Edison Electric Institute, + 3 

NGOs (EEI+)

Dec. Efficiency retrofits for 2 million buildings in two years 

through grants
3

2. Comparing Plan Characteristics

This section compares and contrasts major characteristics of the plans. Despite the often-similar 

objectives in addressing the Three Es, significant differences exist in plan timescales,

mechanisms, and level of detail. These are addressed in Table 2, which summarizes the “who, 

what, when, and how” of the plans.

Table 2. High-level Characterization of the Energy Plans

Who What When How

Plan Primary Sector Primary Focus Timescale Primary

Mechanism

Cost Detail

Repower Power/Transport Environment Mid Goals No

Pickens Power/Transport Security Mid Goals No

Apollo All Env/Econ Mid Mixed Ceiling

SAFE All Security Long Mixed No

CAP Power/Buildings Econ/Env Short Mixed Ceiling

Compete All Econ/Env Long Goals No

NEA All Econ/Env Long Mixed Ceiling

Green Government Environment Short Details No

Justinian Government Environment Short Details No

Google Power/Transport Environment Long Goals Yes

Commerce All Security Long Details No

EEI+ Buildings Econ/Env Short Details Yes

Primary Sectors: Power, Transport, Buildings, and/or primarily addresses the public sector (Government).

Primary Focus: Economic Recovery, Energy Security, and, Environment (the 3 Es).

Timescale: Short, 0-5 years; Mid, 5-15 years; Long, beyond 15 years.

Primary Mechanism: Goals, top-down targets; Details, bottom-up planning; Mixed, combination.

Cost Detail: No, offers limited or no cost details; Ceiling, only total cost/spending ceiling; Yes, provides details about 

spending, policy economic impacts, and/or calculation methods.

Characterizing the plans at a high level can be difficult because they often try to address more 

than one issue, intentionally or not. The characterizations in Table 2 are thus preliminary and 

open to other interpretation. 

The Primary Sector column considers who (which sectors) the plan is focused on: power, 

transport, buildings, government, or some other combination. Many of the plans offer 

recommendations across the entire economy (Apollo, NEA), while a few restrict themselves to 

selected sectors (EEI+, Repower). Primary Focus refers to the most fundamental element of the 

Three Es that drives the plan. Some plans have a singular focus (Green: environment), while

others prioritize the pursuit of different objectives (Pickens: “security is on page one, climate is 

on page two”). All plans focus on immediate steps that the administration or Congress can take 

to address national goals, but some use a long-term horizon (Google, SAFE) while others look 

more specifically at economic recovery over the short term (CAP, EEI+). The Primary 
4

Mechanism column refers to the level of detail in the plan regarding implementation: Does it 

offer rich policy and implementation detail, or is it goal-based and inspirational in nature? 

Finally, the Cost Detail column indicates whether the plan provides estimates of the economic 

costs of implementation. Some plans note a cost ceiling (Apollo, NEA), but provide little 

additional insightful information. Google appears to be the only plan that uses a model, or 

bottom-up approach, to estimate total costs for deployment.

A. Quantitative Targets

Some of the plans have quantifiable energy, environmental, and economic targets.

Table 3 provides select examples of these targets. These targets often exist independently of 

policy levers, cost assessments, and evaluations of technical feasibility. 

Comparing renewable energy targets among plans that include them can help illustrate feasibility. 

The first bar in Figure 2 shows actual generation of renewable electricity in 2007 by type as a 

portion of total national electricity generation. Renewable sources provided 8.5% of total 

electricity generated in 2007, of which hydropower accounted for about 70%, biomass 15%, 

wind 9%, geothermal 5%, and solar 0.1%. The remaining power comes from coal (51%), natural 

gas (18%), nuclear (21%), and other sources (1.5%) shown in the “nonrenewable generation” 

portion of the stacked bar (EIA 2008).

On January 8, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama called for a doubling of renewable energy 

production within three years. An aide later clarified that the statement referred to wind, 

geothermal, and solar electricity only – no doubling of hydro or biomass production was 

intended (Power and Talley 2009). Achieving this goal is represented in the second column 

(2012 Doubling) of Figure 2. The Pickens Plan estimate in the third column assumes that all 

currently forecasted natural gas generation in that year is replaced with wind power. Repower 

and Google directly note estimates in their respective plans. For reference, the 25% renewable 

portfolio standard in 2025 endorsed by New Energy for America and others is shown as a solid 

black column because there is no breakdown of how different renewables would contribute. 

Finally, Figure 2 shows the DOE evaluation of a 20% wind energy target for 2030.1

 1 According to the EIA’s latest “Annual Energy Outlook,” total net generation in 2030 is forecasted at 4,811 terawatt 

hours (TWh), corresponding to a 20% wind target of 962 TWh. See also DOE 2008a.
5

Table 3. Examples of Vision Targets Proposed in Energy Plans

Issue Selected Vision Targets Plan

Job Creation

2011 target to create 2 million jobs from a $100 billion investment in EE and RE technologies CAP

2019 target to create 5 million jobs from a $500 billion investment in EE and RE technologies Apollo

2019 target to create 5 million jobs from a $150 billion investment in EE and RE technologies NEA

Carbon Emissions 

Reductions

2030 target to reduce carbon levels 35% below 2008 levels Green

2050 target to reduce carbon levels 80% below 1990 levels NEA; CAP

Fossil and Nuclear Energy

2020 target to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil by one-third Pickens

2030 target to increase nuclear electricity generation 15% from 2007 levels Google

Construct 10 coal demonstration plants using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology Apollo

Renewable 

Energy

Federal 

Targets

2020 target to generate 100% of electricity from nonfossil energy Repower

2025 target to generate 25% of electricity from renewable sources

NEA; CAP; Apollo;

Green

R&D

Double public funding, at a minimum, for energy R&D CAP; Commerce;

Apollo; Green

Triple public funding for all energy R&D Compete

Tenfold increase in public funding for all energy R&D SAFE

Energy 

Efficiency

Reducing 

Demand

Reduce electricity demand 28% by 2020 (from projected demand) Repower

Reduce electricity demand 15% by 2020 (from projected demand) NEA

Buildings 2011 target to retrofit 2 million existing buildings EEI+

2025 target to reduce electrical demand in new and existing buildings by 30% Apollo

Fuel 

Economy

2020 target to increase light-duty average fuel economy to at least 42 mpg Green

2030 target to increase average fuel economy to 51 mpg Google

4% annual increase in average fuel economy NEA; SAFE

Vehicle 

Fleet 

Diversity

Transform the fleet of light-duty vehicles; plans list near-term (<10 years) targets to accelerate 

use of nonconventional vehicle technologies, including compressed natural gas (CNG), flex-fuel, 

plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles.

SAFE; NEA; Pickens;

Google; CAP;

Commerce

Grid Infrastructure 2030 target to expand transmission capacity by 20,000 miles2 Google

 2 This recommendation was proposed in DOE 2008a.
6

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2007

Actual

2012

Doubling

2020

Pickens

2020

Repower

2025

RPS 25%

2030

Google

2030

DOE

Wind

20%

Electricity Generation (TWh)

Other

Solar

Geothermal

Wind 

Biomass

Hydro

Non-renewable generation

Note: Biomass refers to wood and various wastes; solar refers to photovoltaic and thermal energy. The 25% 

RPS column is black because its renewable power components are unknown (EIA 2008)

Figure 2. Comparison of selected renewable energy targets in the plans

Wind Targets

Doubling wind power output by 2012 would require the installation of about 8 GW of 

new wind capacity each year. Thus, the amount of wind power installed in 2008 would 

need to be continued for three additional years. On February 17, 2009, President Obama 

signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, P.L. 111-5, which modifies the 

renewable energy tax credits. In particular, the economic recovery law extends the wind 

production tax credit (PTC) through 2012, and offers new options to exchange the PTC 

for grants or an investment tax credit (ITC) to compensate for the recent decline in 

investments. These modifications are likely to boost investments in renewable energy 

over the near term compared to the situation before approval of the law, but the economic 

crisis casts a shadow of uncertainty over everything.

Direct comparison of different plans must account for differences in their time horizons. 

Although wind penetration rates for DOE and Pickens are both roughly 20% of total 

electricity generation, DOE’s target assumes an extra 10 years of deployment, and higher 

overall power demand at that time. The targets given for Repower (27%) and Google 

(29%) are not directly comparable with the DOE level because both plans assume 

significantly lower forecasted electricity demand in the future due to efficiency and 

demand-reduction measures. Also important, the market pressures (materials availability, 

manufacturing capacity, workforce capacity, etc.) that could emerge from wind 

deployment over a 10-year schedule compared to a 20-year schedule may be significant. 

Deployment under the shorter schedule would likely result in higher costs per unit of 
7

wind power delivered. The wind industry was considered “overheated” during the past 

few years when roughly 5-8 GW of capacity were installed each year.3

The most aggressive target for any renewable energy source is that offered by Repower 

for solar energy (photovoltaic and solar thermal with storage). Meeting its goal would 

require installing more than 200 GW of solar (with storage capacity) within 10 years, in 

addition to building transmission lines and installing a range of smart-grid technologies. 

For comparison, the Google plan envisions even greater solar capacity in 2030 (250 GW), 

but does so with an extra decade of time and fewer assumptions about storage capability. 

Of this total, the Google plan envisions 80 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and 

170 GW of photovoltaic generating capacity.

The Pickens and 

Repower plans would require nearly an order of magnitude increase in annual 

installations to meet their targets in 10 years.

Solar Targets

4

 3 Many researchers believe the on-again, off-again nature of the production tax credit (PTC) contributed to 

this overheating. See, for example, Wiser 2007. 4 For comparison, the United States had just more than 1 GW of installed photovoltaic and just under 0.5 

GW of installed CSP generating capacity at the end of 2008 (Sherwood 2009). Globally, total installed 

photovoltaic generating capacity at the end of 2008 was approximately 10 times higher than the level in the 

United States. A rich pipeline of CSP projects is under development in Spain, the United States, and other 

countries.

Other Renewable Energy Targets

The Google plan places the highest expectations on geothermal energy, both traditional 

and enhanced, with about 80 GW installed by 2030, accounting for 15% of total national 

generation. 

Finally, several of the plans call for a national renewable energy portfolio standard of 

25% by 2025. Pursuing the DOE wind value of 20% wind by 2030, or any of the other 

plans shown in Figure 2, would put the country on course to achieve the RPS target at an 

aggregate level, but specific policy design issues would influence if and how it is 

accomplished.

Efficiency Targets

Figure 3 illustrates the 2009 EIA baseline electricity demand forecast through 2030 and 

compares it to targets from selected plans. For comparison, the EIA’s forecast from 2007 

is also included, before the impacts of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)

of 2007 legislation and the economic downturn.
8

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Electricity Generation (TWh)

EIA (2007)

EIA (2009)

Google

NEA

Repower

 Source: EIA forecast is from “Annual Energy Outlook,” early release 2009

Figure 3. Selected energy efficiency targets compared to the EIA baseline

Again, Repower has the most aggressive target for electricity efficiency improvements, 

averaging about 2.6% per year in electricity demand reductions compared to the 

reference EIA forecast. California held its per capita electricity demand flat during the 

past 30 years, demonstrating the flat Google target on a smaller scale (Chang et al. 2007).

Many experts think the potential to reduce electricity demand through efficiency and

conservation is significant, and also the lowest-cost option to meet marginal power and 

carbon abatement (McKinsey 2009). Although Repower’s efficiency target is almost 

certainly technically achievable, estimating the cost and effort required to do so would 

depend on economic, political, technical, and social factors beyond the scope of this 

analysis.

Finally, several of the plans recommend changes in corporate average fuel economy

(CAFE) requirements for passenger vehicles as shown in Figure 4. The Energy 

Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 requires that new passenger vehicles 

achieve 35 miles per gallon (mpg) in 2020. The Green target is the most aggressive 

among those shown and calls for 42 mpg in 2020, rather than EISA’s 35 mpg. This 

corresponds to an average annual increase of approximately 5%. The NEA and SAFE 

plans suggest a 4% annual increase (the latter only after the 2020 EISA provisions are 

met, while the former implies that it should begin immediately). The Google plan 

recommends a 2030 target of 45 mpg, but uses the more conservative EIA interpretation 

of efficiency compared to EPA’s; it is converted in the figure to be comparable to the 

other targets. For comparison, existing requirements for Japan and proposed requirements 

for Europe are also included.
9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Miles Per Gallon

Current Requirement

EISA

Green

NEA

Europe

Japan

Google

SAFE

Source: Plan data, Feng et al. 2008, ICCT 2008

Figure 4. Fuel economy for new passenger vehicles under the plans

Green Jobs Growth Targets

Some plans provide estimates of the number of new green jobs that would be created 

through their policy recommendations. A major debate exists among academics and 

analysts over how to accurately estimate the net impacts and value of green job creation. 

This debate is reflected in the range of estimates from the three plans compared in 

Table 4.

Table 4. Job Growth Intensity per Investment of Federal Spending

Plan Jobs Created per $100k Invested Goal

CAP 2 jobs (over 2 years) 2011 target to create 2 million jobs from a 

$100 billion investment

Apollo 1 job (over 10 years) 2019 target to create 5 million jobs from a 

$500 billion investment

NEA 3.3 jobs (over 10 years) 2019 target to create 5 million jobs from a 

$150 billion investment 

Comparative R&D Targets

Several plans recommend substantially higher funding for public energy R&D, shown 

historically in Figure 5. Methods to calculate and display public energy R&D 

investments differ based on variable definitions and the use of real versus nominal 

spending data. 
10

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006

Billions (Year 2000 Dollars)

Electricity T&D

Fossil

Renewables

Hydrogen (EERE)

Efficiency

Fusion

Fission

2009

Requested

Source: Gallagher 2008

Figure 5. U.S. DOE budget authority for RD&D

For 2008, about $2.6 billion of funding went into seven core programs at the U.S. 

Department of Energy; if research for basic energy sciences is added, it includes about 

another $900 million. The SAFE plan estimates current federal energy R&D spending at 

$3 billion per year, and calls for a tenfold increase to about $30 billion per year. This 

increased level, SAFE notes, is on par with public health-related research, but still less 

than half of funding for research related to national defense. Institutional challenges 

associated with managing this substantial and near-term funding increase are not

addressed in detail by SAFE.

The Green plan estimates current energy R&D spending at $3.5 billion per year, of which 

the plan notes about one-fifth, or $700 million, is for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy (EERE). A paper by the Congressional Research Service notes, 

however, that recent EERE funding is more than $1 billion annually (Matthews et al. 

2007). The Green plan recommends more than doubling the funding for EERE R&D, in 

addition to reducing funding for fossil and nuclear energy. By 2013, Green recommends 

funding EERE with $3.2 billion per year. 

Other plans offer less detail. Commerce recommends doubling energy R&D, referencing 

specific nuclear and fossil projects in addition to EERE options. Similar to the Green plan, 

Apollo and CAP recommend at least doubling R&D funding for low-carbon technologies. 

And finally, Compete advocates for a threefold increase in energy R&D funding across 

all federal agencies.

It is unclear whether these recommended R&D increases are at levels sufficient to reach 

the plans’ future targets. No plans offer details on the appropriate rate of R&D funding 

scale-up that will effectively reduce levels of redundancy or waste. And while some plans 

offer details on research priorities and pilot projects (e.g., CCS), forward-looking analysis

about how the national energy R&D portfolio may change to meet explicit national 

energy goals is limited. 
11

B. Policy Measures

This section compares and contrasts policy recommendations in the plans. Examples of 

selected recommendations are identified in Table 5, and an expanded list is found in 

Appendix C. We do not attempt to evaluate the implementation challenges of these 

recommendations because there is generally little information in the plans on key policy 

design issues. In some cases, we do highlight important policy design issues to consider.

Policy suggestions often refer to or otherwise align with initiatives in the combined

energy bills of 2005 and 2007, the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, and EISA, 

respectively. The plans frequently suggest fully funding or further expanding existing 

activities defined by these bills, especially those aimed at deploying EE and RE options. 

The recommendations of the Green, Compete, and Justinian plans are often agencyspecific, detailing programmatic and institutional changes within the federal structure. 

White House and Cabinet officials can drive these agency recommendations without the

need for legislative action. Plans such as Apollo and SAFE give a range of agencyspecific and legislative-based policy recommendations, providing a more global 

perspective on the federal government’s powers to enact change. Commerce’s approach 

is similar: to promote agency and legislative changes, as well as suggesting issues for 

further analysis prior to any federal action. Pickens and Repower provide few policy 

options to reach their vision targets, so they are not included in Table 5.

Several of the plans call for an RPS target. None of them provide policy detail on 

implementing RPS legislation such as what technologies are eligible, who is exempted, 

and how credits are traded. Several congressional bills are under development that call 

for a national RPS and will likely be debated in the first half of 2009.5

 5 Senator Bingaman released a draft discussion paper in late January 2009 calling for a 20% RPS by 2021; 

Representative Markey introduced legislation in early February for a 25% RPS by 2025. 
12

Table 5. Examples of Policy Mechanisms Proposed in Energy Plans

(see Appendix C for a more complete list of Policy Recommendations)

Issue Policy Select Examples of Policy Recommendations

Job Creation Promote green workforce 

training initiatives 

• Congress should fully fund the America COMPETES Act (Commerce). 

• The federal government should create a Clean Energy Jobs Corp to promote “green collar” jobs (CAP).

Carbon 

Emissions 

Raise the priority of national 

energy and climate strategy 

• Create a White House National Energy Council to lead all other agencies in making energy and global 

climate change a top administration priority (CAP).

Reduce carbon emissions • Implement an economy-wide, cap-and-trade program to reduce GHG emissions 80% below 1990 levels 

by 2050. Auction carbon permits and use the generated revenues to invest in clean energy (Green). 

Fossil and 

Nuclear 

Energy

Expand domestic fossil 

energy production

• Increase access to resources on the outer continental shelf, with environmental protections (SAFE).

• Enact "use it or lose it" approach to existing oil leases (NEA).

Accelerate commercial use 

of carbon-reduction 

technologies

• EPA should establish new source performance standards (NSPS) for coal-fired power plants consistent 

with the use of integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology (Justinian).

• Congress should enact a new tax credit to retrofit existing coal-fired power plants – including those of 

less than 400 MW (Commerce).

Reduce or eliminate fossil 

energy subsidies

• Create an Energy Subsidies Commission, operated analogously to the Defense Base Closure and 

Realignment Commission (BRAC), to prioritize energy subsidy reform (Justinian).

Safer nuclear energy use • Suspend Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository program and develop secure on-site storage 

(Green).

Enhance use of the 

strategic petroleum reserve 

(SPR)

• Release petroleum products tactically to address high oil prices. (NEA).

Renewable 

Energy

Spur renewable energy 

R&D and commercialization

• Create a National Energy Innovation Fund to fund demonstration projects with others (Apollo).

• Direct the secretaries of Treasury and Energy to propose legislation to establish a $200 billion National 

Clean Energy Bank to provide long-term financing for breakthrough EERE technologies (Compete).

Spur renewable energy 

markets and installations

• Establish a 25% federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2025 (NEA).

• Direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to set national interconnection standards for 

an interoperable grid and transmission system capable of connecting multiple new energy sources and 

devices (Compete).

Energy 

Efficiency

Reduce electricity demands 

from buildings

• Prioritize block grants to states/regions where utilities “decouple” electricity regulation (NEA). 

• Congress should establish targets for the residential and commercial model energy building codes to 

increase EE savings by at least 30% by 2010 and 50% by 2020 (EEI+).

Increase fuel economy and 

diversify vehicle fleet

• Consider mechanisms such as “feebates” consumer and manufacturing incentives, and cash incentives 

or vouchers to accelerate conventional vehicle turnover (Google).

Grid 

Infrastructure

Advance smart grid • Require FERC to modify rates of return on investments to modernize the electrical grid (Apollo).

Expand transmission 

capacity

• Modify DOE's existing authority under Section 216(h) of the Federal Power Act, designating DOE as the 

lead agency to coordinate permits required for interstate transmission (within two years) (Commerce).
13

Most plans call for dramatically improved efficiency in the building sector over the 

medium- to long term (NEA, Repower, Apollo). Based on aggressive efforts in the draft

House economic stimulus legislation, short-term efforts may help support the longerrange goals. EEI+ and CAP call for federally administered block grant funding to support 

existing building efficiency programs at the state and local level. 

While many policies overlap among the plans, strong differences exist on the objectives 

and subsequent policy measures to address nuclear energy, fossil fuels, carbon emissions, 

and vehicle efficiency. 

Nuclear energy proponents (Commerce and SAFE) cite the technology’s ability to 

address energy security and low carbon needs, yet other plans (NEA and Google) do not 

recommend aggressive expansions without improvements in cost and waste disposal. The 

Green plan recommends a set of policies to substantially reduce the federal role 

supporting all new nuclear power generation. 

Fossil fuel policies also vary. Some plans recommend incentivizing enhanced oil 

recovery processes (SAFE and NEA) and drilling on the outer continental shelf 

(Commerce and SAFE) to increase domestic oil production. Other plans recommend 

heightened drilling regulations (Green). Advancing carbon-capture and storage 

technology (CAP, SAFE, Commerce, NEA, Green, and Justinian) is commonly 

recommended, yet incentivizing the more commercially mature integrated gasification 

combined-cycle (IGCC) technologies (Commerce and Justinian) is less frequently noted. 

Carbon mitigation recommendations often parallel those on fossil energy. Some plans 

(Justinian and Green) want carbon emissions to be regulated under the Clear Air Act 

(Commerce opposes this), in addition to broader support for a cap-and-trade system 

(Green, NEA, Apollo, and CAP). Many plans (especially EEI+) recommend greatly 

increasing targeted energy efficiency projects as a first means to reduce carbon 

emissions.

Most vehicle efficiency policies are driven by objectives to reduce foreign oil 

consumption and carbon emissions. Some plans seek to incentivize plug-in hybrid 

electric vehicles (PHEVs). Other plans (SAFE) offer a more comprehensive approach. 

The Pickens plan is known for targets to increase natural gas-powered vehicles; however,

few policy details are offered and none of the other plans support such an aggressive 

transition to natural gas vehicles.

Finally, the plans offer a mix of economic figures and analyses tied to implementation. 

Google provides the most detailed cost summary for increased low-carbon technology 

deployment, summing individual plan components to give an overall cost estimate tied to 

its targets. A few plans (NEA, Google, and CAP) provide revenue estimates from capand-trade or vehicle “feebate”6

 6 A feebate program is a self-financing system of fees and rebates, which are used to influence consumer 

behavior. In this example, rebates are offered to buyers of highly efficient vehicles, while fees are charged 

to those who purchase inefficient ones.

policies that can be redirected to fund EERE RD&D or 

offset other taxes. Generally, plans either identify cost ceiling limits or note nothing at all. 
14

3. Key Findings

Conclusions from this analysis of the energy plans are grouped into general and specific 

categories. Readers are likely to come to different conclusions about what the plans mean 

for U.S. energy policy given their fundamentally different objectives and methodology. 

Additionally, as the plans analyzed here are only one subset of a larger group of 

recommendations, these observations do not necessarily reflect those of the entire survey 

population. 

General Findings

• Most energy plans evaluated here call for transformative change in energy policy. 

They argue that inconsistent national policy has contributed to damaging cyclical 

changes in energy markets during the past 35 years. Most plans imply that the 

nation can no longer escape the consequences of petroleum insecurity and climate 

change. Fundamental changes are needed to improve energy end-use efficiency, 

lower emissions, and lessen reliance on oil imports. The recent collapse in oil 

prices has not helped the environment for political leadership in this regard.

However, some argue that the economic crisis opens the door of opportunity to 

think big in addressing perennial energy – and larger economic – problems.

• Most plans focus on broad recommendations for a new comprehensive energy 

policy rather than detailed design issues necessary for implementation in any one 

sector. Because of this, they lack detail on policy design issues that must be 

known to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of plan recommendations. 

Evaluating the challenges of a cap-and-trade recommendation, for example, 

depends on factors such as which sectors are included, how allowances are 

allocated or auctioned, and what role carbon offsets play.7 Similarly, a national 

RPS must consider the trade-offs of including carve-outs for specific 

technologies, designing renewable energy certificate (REC) trading markets, and 

resolving jurisdictional standing when state and federal requirements conflict

(Perera et al. 2007). Additional follow-on analysis can help flesh out the policy 

design options in many of the plans.

• Recently introduced plans note that economic recovery is the first priority for the 

new Congress and administration. Whether the recovery law can integrate 

Keynesian spending with longer-term priorities such as carbon mitigation, oil 

import reductions, and a greener economy remains to be seen. Some short-term 

measures may contradict longer-term objectives (highway reconstruction vs. 

lower oil demand and emissions), while others may create unintended 

consequences (interaction of a national renewable portfolio standard with capand-trade legislation) (Houser et al. 2009). 

• The plans illustrate the complexity of trying to prioritize national energy goals 

that focus on long-term needs while providing enough flexibility to deal with 

 7 See, for example, Guesnerie and Tulkens 2009 or Burtraw et al. 2009. 
15

short-term requirements. Political leadership, as noted in some of the plans, could

help catalyze a national discussion resulting in a more strategic, consistent federal 

role.

• Almost universally, plans call for an expansion of clean energy R&D, EERE 

technology deployment, and climate change preparedness. But sharp 

contradictions also exist regarding domestic drilling, nuclear subsidies, climate 

mitigation targets, and the fundamental role of government. Unpredictable 

political dynamics within Congress, and between Congress and the 

administration, will influence the evolution of support for elements of the plans.

Specific Findings

• Most renewable energy targets proposed by the plans are probably technically 

achievable in the timeframe considered, but the most aggressive ones are likely to 

come at high cost. Deploying 200 GW of solar-generating capacity within 10 

years, as one plan suggests, would likely create supply-chain tensions that cause a 

price increase.

• Over the short-run, many plans suggest that investments to improve building 

efficiency are an attractive policy option because they are quick to create 

employment and proven to cost-effectively reduce energy demand and 

emissions.8 There are two building sectors to focus on: federal buildings, which 

could play an important role in stimulating efficiency markets and establishing a 

leadership role; and privately owned buildings, which are supported by the 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through existing state and local 

programs.

• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extends and reforms the 

production and investment tax credits for renewable power sources – a provision 

that some of the recent plans had recommended. These changes aim to build a 

foundation for renewable energy and green jobs over the longer term. 

• About one-third of the plans analyzed call for expanded production of domestic 

fossil fuels and development of alternatives to petroleum. The collapse in energy 

prices since those plans were published has at least temporarily reduced 

momentum to address oil insecurity and may slow the search for long-term 

alternative transportation solutions. Many analysts believe the current low-price 

environment is temporary; when global demand begins growing again, oil supply 

will be caught unprepared, resulting in a return to high prices.9

 8 This is the foundation of the EEI+ plan and a core element of many others. For more comprehensive 

analysis, see American Physical Society 2008. 9 See, for example, Bordoff and Metcalf 2009 or Van de Veer 2009. 

These 

developments illustrate that national energy policy has yet to address the 

sometimes damaging cyclical nature of energy markets.
16

• The plans generally acknowledge that new and expanded energy infrastructure is 

required to achieve transformative changes in the U.S. energy system. Yet most 

plans do not provide detail on how to best introduce new electric transmission 

capacity, electric vehicle-charging systems, or carbon capture and sequestration 

infrastructure.

10 Policy design associated with this infrastructure deployment 

could have strong repercussions on clean energy technology development and 

evolution. 

 10 Significant research has been conducted on these topics, however, outside of the plans. See the following 

examples: DOE 2008a; DOE 2008b; and Dooley et al. 2006. 
17

References

American Physical Society. (2008). “Energy Future: Think Efficiency,” September 2008.

Bordoff, J.; and Metcalf, G. (2009). “Breaking the Boom-Bust Oil Cycle" The New 

Republic, January 2009.

Burtraw, D.; Palmer, K.; and Kahn, D. (2009). “A Symmetric Safety Valve.” Resources 

for the Future, February 2009.

Chang, A.; Rosenfeld, A.; and McAuliffe, P. (2007). “Energy Efficiency in California 

and The United States: Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” in 

Schneider, Rosencranz, and Mastrandrea (Eds.) Climate Change Science and Policy, 

2007.

Department of Energy (DOE). (2008a). U.S. Department of Energy. “20% Wind Energy 

by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply.” July 2008.

DOE. (2008b). U.S. Department of Energy. “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Charging 

Infrastructure Review.” November 2008. 

Dooley, J.J.; Dahowski, R.T.; et al. (2006). “Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological 

Storage: A Core Element of a Global Energy Technology Strategy to Address Climate 

Change.” Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, April 2006.

Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2008). “Electric Power Monthly,” December 

2008, Table 1.1A.

EIA. (2006). “Electric Power Annual 2006,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, 

Table 2.1.

Feng, A.; Gordon, D.; Hui, H.; et al. (2008). International Council on Clean 

Transportation, “Passenger Vehicle Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards: A 

Global Update,” Updated December 2008. 

Gallagher, K.S. (2008). “DOE Budget Authority for Energy Research, Development, and 

Demonstration Database,” Energy Technology Innovation Policy, John F. Kennedy 

School of Government, Harvard University, June 2008.

Guesnerie, R.; Tulkens, H.; eds. (2009). “The Design of Climate Policy.” MIT Press, 

January 2009.

Hargreaves, S. (2008). “Save Energy, Save the Economy,” CNNMoney.com, December 

14, 2008.
18

Houser, T.; Mohan, S.; and Heilmayr, R. (2009). “Policy Brief: A Green Global 

Recovery? Assessing U.S. Economic Stimulus and the Prospects for International 

Coordination.” World Resources Institute and the Peterson Institute for International 

Economics. February 2009.

Hudson Clean Energy Partners, L.P. (2009). “Additional Observations About the Impacts 

of Stimulus Action on Energy and Environmental Policy.” January 8, 2009.

International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). (2008). “Fuel Economy Standards 

and GHG Standards Charts in PowerPoint Format.” Updated December 2008.

Jenkins, H. (2008). “Boone Doggle,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2008, p. A13.

Logan, J.; Hederman, W.; and Yacobucci, B. (2008). “The T. Boone Pickens Energy Plan: 

Preliminary Analysis of Implementation Issues,” general distribution memo issued by the 

Congressional Research Service, October 1, 2008.

Matthews, C., et al. (2007). “Federal Research and Development Funding: FY08.” 

Congressional Research Service, September 20, 2007. 

McKinsey and Company. (2009). “Greenhouse Gas Abatement in the U.S. and the Role 

of the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,” 2009 (forthcoming).

Perera, A.; Hanson, C.; Heilmayr, R. (2007). “National Renewable Electricity Standard

Design Features.” World Resources Institute, December 2007.

Podesta, J.; Stern, T.; and Batten, K. (2007). “Capturing the Energy Opportunity: 

Creating a Low-Carbon Economy,” in Progressive Growth: Transforming America’s 

Economy through Clean Energy, Innovation, and Opportunity, Center for American 

Progress, November 2007.

Power, S.; and Talley, I. (2009). “Obama Team, Exxon Mobil Chief Trade Jabs on 

Energy,” Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2009.

Sherwood, L. (2009). Interstate Renewable Energy Council, personal communication, 

February 2009.

Van de Veer, J. (2009). “Investing Through the Cycle: Challenges and Opportunities,” 

speech given by chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell at CERA Week, Houston, TX, 

February 2009.

Wiser, R. (2007). “Wind Power and the Production Tax Credit: An Overview of Research 

Results,” Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, March 29, 2007, pp. 6-8.
19

Appendix A – Plan Summaries

This appendix provides concise summaries of each of the 12 plans listed in Table 1,

ordered chronologically according to their public release dates. We consider the main 

goals, how the plan envisions achieving them, and note special challenges. Because each 

summary is limited to one page, we focus only on selected issues. 
20

Repower America (Repower)

Repower America has an uncluttered goal: 100% carbon-free electricity within 10 years. 

The plan was first articulated in a speech by Al Gore in July 2008. It calls for significant 

improvements in national energy efficiency, rapid deployment of renewable energy 

options, a unified national smart grid, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The plan 

claimed to have more than 2 million supporters in late 2008,

11

Selected Implementation Challenges

The wind and solar targets in this plan seem especially challenging. While the 

Department of Energy has reported that achieving 20% wind energy by 2030 is feasible, 

the Repower America plan calls for 33-37% wind energy within 10 years. This cannot be 

ruled out as impossible, although it is likely to come at a very high cost due to the market 

distortions that would likely result from such rapid growth. Similarly, installing 200 GW 

or more of solar thermal and photovoltaics (PV) might be possible in theory, but little 

information is provided on how it would be incentivized.

Furthermore, the analysis does not provide an estimate of how much it would cost to 

decommission all existing fossil fuel power plants within 10 years, whether or not they 

have paid back their initial capital costs. More than 200 GW of new natural gas power 

plants have been installed since 1995, for example, and retiring them early would strand 

the owners’ assets (EIA 2006). 

more than the 1.4 million 

who support the Pickens Plan.

Repower America has specific “vision targets” for energy efficiency and renewable 

energy options (see box). With the exception of the efficiency target, little information is 

provided on what policies would drive the rapid expansion. The plan authors note that the 

technologies, investment, and supply chains required to achieve its goals are ready and 

would not present deployment constraints. This is a controversial statement for some, at 

least when considering costs and economic efficiency in such a short period. 

Finally, even if 30 GW of coal- and gas-fired carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) 

could be installed within 10 years, these are not carbon-free sources of electricity because 

at least 10% of their carbon dioxide emissions cannot be readily captured.

 11 http://www.wecansolveit.org/, accessed on December 13, 2008.

Selected Highlights of Repower America

• Reduce projected national electricity demand by 28% in 10 years through a 

combination of building and appliance standards, regulatory reforms, and other 

incentives;

• Deploy 20-25 GW of geothermal, 110-180 GW of solar thermal, 65-75 GW of solar 

PV, and 315-400 GW of wind power within 10 years;

• Depending on conditions, deploy about 30 GW (4% of total power demand) of coaland gas-fired carbon capture and sequestration (CCS); and

• Deploy an undisclosed number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
21

Selected Highlights of the Pickens Plan

• Deploy enough wind turbines and transmission capacity in 10 years to (largely) offset 

the need for natural gas in power generation;

• Use this natural gas in fleets of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles; and

• Offset the need to import about one-third of the nation’s petroleum from the oil-toCNG conversions.

The Pickens Plan (Pickens)

The T. Boone Pickens Plan, announced in July 2008, served to stimulate a national dialogue on 

energy policy and encouraged others to issue their own plans. The Pickens Plan has attracted 

wide attention due to its $56 million outreach component and the fact that it was issued at the 

time of peak oil prices. 

Selected Implementation Challenges

Some have claimed that the Pickens Plan suffers from an unnecessary “Rube Goldberg” 

complexity, and that the wind deployment does not have to be linked to natural gas vehicles 

to be effective.12 Others have noted the following implementation challenges with the Plan:13

• The Plan is likely to result in only about one-third of the reduction in oil imports as it 

claims. Two issues explain this potential discrepancy. First, only about half as much 

natural gas as the Plan claims would be displaced by wind turbines, because wind 

power offsets the need for coal as well as natural gas, and a portion of gas would still 

be needed for backup generation. Second, any petroleum offset by natural gas in 

vehicles would displace domestically produced oil as well as imports. The Plan is 

likely to offset more carbon dioxide than it claims, due to the reduction in coal-fired 

electricity, and the switch from petroleum to natural gas in vehicles.

• Wind turbine generation capacity would need to expand to approximately 260 GW 

within 10 years to meet the goals of the Plan. While potentially feasible, such a rapid 

expansion could result in supply-chain distortions.

• For natural gas vehicles to consume the amount of gas offset by wind power as 

envisioned, about 75 million vehicles would need to be in service within 10 years. 

This would require a rapid ramp up in sales, accounting for nearly 100% of the new 

cars sold by 2018. Such a policy would likely restrict expansion of a proposed 

electric-vehicle fleet due to conflicting infrastructure requirements. Given the recent 

surge in new shale natural gas supply, substituting one form of energy insecurity for 

another is less likely under the Plan, but additional research is needed to confirm the 

long-term economics of shale gas production. The Plan was recently modified to 

focus on natural gas use in heavy-duty vehicle fleets instead of light-duty fleets.

 12 Goldberg was a cartoonist famous for drawing elaborate machines that performed simple tasks in convoluted 

ways (see Jenkins 2008). 13 This critique of the Plan is taken largely from a general distribution memo issued by the Congressional Research 

Service (see Logan et al. 2008). 
22

Selected Highlights of the Apollo Program

• Pass a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 25% by 2025, and a 10-year 

extension of the production and investment tax credits;

• Achieve a 20% reduction of energy use in new and existing buildings (and power 

plants) by 2025 through an Energy Smart Fund that grants federal dollars to state and 

local initiatives;

• Establish new transmission corridors and modernize the electrical grid; 

• Double national investment in clean energy R&D and incentives to build a green-collar 

workforce;

• Restore leadership in technology through a National Energy Innovation Fund that 

helps investors overcome the “valley of death” in bringing clean energy options to 

market;

• Improve power plant and industrial efficiency by 20% by 2025 through combined heat 

and power (CHP) and integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC);

• Demonstrate at least 10 carbon capture and sequestration plants; and

• Establish a “cap-and-invest” program to auction greenhouse gas emission allowances 

and invest the anticipated annual revenues of $50-300 billion into new technology 

through a Clean Energy Investment Corporation.

The New Apollo Program (Apollo)

The Apollo plan – promoted by a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community 

leaders – offers a blueprint for a fundamentally new economy. It is perhaps the most ambitious 

of all plans reviewed here. It aims to invest $500 billion in clean energy initiatives over 10 years 

and create 5 million green-collar jobs. The plan puts special emphasis on restoring quality 

manufacturing jobs in the United States. The Apollo plan is more comprehensive than many of 

the other plans and targets both short- and long-term challenges. It makes no mention, however, 

of expanding domestic fossil fuel extraction or nuclear power.

Selected Implementation Challenges

The plan could face challenges in Congress due to its potential high costs and perception that too 

much control is placed in government hands. Evaluating the potential costs (and benefits) of the 

Apollo Program is complex, and it is difficult to estimate in advance how far $500 billion will go 

toward meeting the goals. Some members of Congress may object to elements of the plan 

because of potentially high costs. Others might believe that government is unable to manage 

investment corporations or innovation funds effectively, even if the private sector has recently 

demonstrated its own weaknesses. Some may object to the program’s aim to restore the power of 

labor unions in the manufacturing sector. Controversy over union demands is considered by 

some the stumbling point on mid-December legislation that would have provided short-term 

loans to protect the “formerly” Big Three domestic auto manufacturers. 
23

Selected Highlights of the SAFE Plan

• Increasing tenfold federal energy R&D to $30 billion annually (and boosting advanced 

battery research to at least $500 million per year);

• Extending the production and investment tax credits until 2013;

• Empowering FERC to ensure a robust and expanded transmission system;

• Eliminating tariffs on imported ethanol, and replacing existing $0.45/gallon tax credit 

for domestic blenders with a “smart subsidy”;

• Expanding access to domestic oil and gas resources; and

• Promoting a U.S.-China partnership on carbon capture and sequestration.

A National Strategy for Energy Security (SAFE) 

The SAFE plan has attracted strong interest among those most concerned with national security. 

Although the recommendations are primarily focused on reducing oil dependence, the plan also 

acknowledges that climate protection is essential to national security. It recognizes that there are 

no simple measures to achieve energy independence; several decades of tough political choices 

will be required to find suitable and sufficient substitutes for oil.

 

The plan was released in September 2008, before the worst effects of the economic crisis 

appeared, so it does not address issues of economic recovery. As oil prices have fallen by more 

than $100 per barrel since July 2008, the political momentum to address energy insecurity has 

diminished. Given the poor global economic outlook, it is unlikely that higher energy prices will 

return – absent a major international security event – in time to allow this plan to regain the 

attention it once received. 

Selected Implementation Challenges

One potential concern in implementing the plan would be how to effectively spend the tenfold 

increase in energy R&D, particularly in the early years. Careful ramping up of spending to 

ensure useful R&D plans, and avoid duplication or waste, would be necessary.

The SAFE plan calls for consumer tax credits to spur the deployment of highly efficient vehicles. 

A credit of $4,000 for the first 2 million vehicles, for example, would be offered for any vehicle 

that is twice as efficient as the relevant fuel economy standard for that year. It remains to be seen 

whether this would be an effective way to incentivize transportation efficiency if petroleum 

prices remain relatively low. 

The plan also calls for an aggressive expansion of CCS activities, from roughly $100 million 

annually today to $1.5 billion within five years. Several demonstration projects (similar to 

FutureGen) would be supported, with the goal of determining whether CCS is technically, 

economically, and socially viable. Expanding cooperation with other large coal-users (China and 

India) on CCS seems a logical follow-on activity once the domestic questions are answered.
24

Selected Highlights of the Green Recovery Plan

• Require that all federal buildings are retrofitted for energy efficiency and renewable 

energy; encourage state and local governments to do the same;

• Extend and increase tax credits to encourage private-building owners and 

homeowners to perform similar retrofits;

• Expand federal support for state and municipal transit programs;

• Expand the Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program from EISA;

• Expand and extend renewable energy tax credits; and

• Provide loan guarantees for advanced biofuel production capacity. 

Green Recovery (CAP)

In 2007, the Center for American Progress (CAP) issued a report on “Progressive Growth,” one 

chapter of which outlined how to transition to a low-carbon economy (Podesta et al. 2007). 

Green Recovery, written primarily by political economists at the University of Massachusetts, is 

an attempt to jumpstart some of the recommendations in that chapter.

Green Recovery is a two-year plan to spend $100 billion in six green infrastructure areas:

building retrofits, mass transit and freight rail, smart-grid systems, wind power, solar power, and 

next-generation biofuels. It aims to create 2 million new jobs, especially in the construction and 

manufacturing sectors. Half of the $100 billion would be directed to business and homeowner 

tax credits for building retrofits and renewable energy investments; $46 billion would support 

expanded direct government spending on public building retrofits, mass transit, freight rail, smart 

grids, and renewable energy; and the remaining $4 billion would go to federal loan guarantees 

that would underwrite additional investment. The plan would be paid for through deficit 

spending, but the authors estimate that energy savings would offset these up-front costs in about 

five years. 

Selected Implementation Challenges

This plan assumes rapid action by the federal government in retrofitting public buildings. It 

seems likely that many, if not most, federal buildings would require at least a year of planning 

before retrofitting could begin. Furthermore, the requirement is not clearly defined regarding 

which elements of public buildings (windows; lighting; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning 

systems or HVAC; etc.) should be prioritized for retrofitting.

The plan assumes that renewable energy developers will have an appropriate tax appetite to take 

advantage of extended tax credits. It remains to be seen whether recent reforms to renewable 

energy tax credits will sufficiently encourage investors (Hudson Clean Energy Partners 2009). 

Another variable is transmission capacity for massive renewable energy projects that the plan 

calls for – developers might be reluctant to make these investments without greater clarity on 

renewable energy transmission policy. 
25

Selected Highlights of the 100-Day Energy Action Plan

• Direct key agency managers to work with leading experts to accelerate development, 

rapid adoption, and international recognition of cutting-edge energy efficiency 

standards, labeling, and verification systems;

• Direct Treasury to lead a “Clean Energy Incentives” task force to construct an 

investment framework that promotes affordable, clean energy;

• Propose legislation to establish a $200 billion National Clean Energy Bank that 

provides long-term financing and incentives for breakthrough clean energy products 

and services;

• Triple current level of federal investment in basic and applied energy R&D;

• Direct Labor to create a $300 million “Clean Energy Workforce Readiness Program” 

to foster partnerships that ensure skilled workers in clean energy; and

• Direct FERC to create a regional transmission superhighway planning entity, giving 

them final authority for siting of transmission facilities.

A 100-Day Energy Action Plan (Compete)

The Council on Competitiveness – a group of CEOs, university presidents, and labor leaders 

committed to keeping the United States competitive in global markets – issued its 100-day 

energy action plan for the new administration in September 2008. The four-page plan states that 

the future economic competitiveness, national security, and prosperity of the nation will depend 

on an energy system that is sustainable, globally interconnected, and supported by all citizens. 

The Council notes that this plan is only the first step in achieving a sustainable, secure, and 

competitive energy system; it will convene a National Energy Summit in mid-2009 to issue a 

more comprehensive list of recommendations.

There are six key topics in the Council’s plan: federal purchasing to promote energy efficiency, 

fully utilizing all domestic energy; catalyzing energy infrastructure investments; spawning

technology breakthroughs and entrepreneurship; building a clean energy workforce; and clearing

obstacles to a national transmission superhighway. Many are focused on entrepreneurism and 

innovation. Selected highlights are shown in the box below.

Selected Implementation Challenges

This plan was published before the economic meltdown of late 2008, so there are few features 

aimed at immediate economic recovery. Furthermore, while the plan is focused on the actions 

during the first 100 days of the new administration, most of the programs recommended would 

require far more time to become operational. 

The Cabinet-level working group on “Clean Energy Incentives” has a difficult task of 

establishing an investment framework to promote affordable, clean energy. The mandates of this 

recommendation seem to call for extensive restructuring of energy economics and governance. 

Furthermore, the $200 billion National Clean Energy Bank might be difficult to capitalize at this 

point given the current and expected budget deficits.
26

Selected Highlights of New Energy for America

• An economy-wide cap-and-trade system with 100% auction of allowances and 80% 

reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2050;

• A national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 25% by 2025 and an extension of the 

production tax credit for five years;

• A requirement that 30% of the federal government’s electricity come from renewable 

sources by 2020, up from roughly 5% in 2007; and that existing federal buildings 

increase energy efficiency by 25% within five years;

• A public-private partnership to develop five carbon capture and sequestration plants;

• A Grid Modernization Commission that issues matching grants of 25% of qualifying 

investments; the plan does not address other transmission policy issues;

• Priority construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline and “use it or lose it” drilling 

leases; and

• A goal to put 1 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on the road by 2015.

New Energy for America (NEA)

The new administration’s plan calls for investing $150 billion in clean energy technology 

development during the next 10 years to create 5 million new jobs. The outlays will be paid for 

with revenues from a cap-and-trade system that aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

80% below 1990 levels by 2050. In early December 2008 – after oil prices dropped to nearly $40 

per barrel – the plan dropped provisions for a windfall profit tax on oil companies that would 

have been used to provide $500 rebate checks to individuals. Reducing dependence on foreign 

oil takes a high-profile position in the plan.

The plan addresses issues such as domestic oil and gas drilling, strategic petroleum reserve 

“swaps,” clean energy technology development and deployment, energy efficiency targets, green 

jobs, and traditional environmental protection. 

Selected Implementation Challenges

One challenge in this plan will be in coordinating congressional action. Funding for many of the 

technology development and deployment mechanisms will depend on revenues created in the 

cap-and-trade auctions. However, Congress is likely to prioritize economic recovery, energy 

legislation, and climate legislation in that order. 

Other challenges will be the specific design features of the cap and trade, and national RPS, 

systems. In the former, Congress will wrestle with how to define and auction allowances; in the 

latter, the challenge will be how to achieve regional buy-in for a national RPS. 
27

Selected Highlights of the Transition to Green Plan

• Work with other nations to reach a new climate treaty at the Copenhagen climate 

summit in 2009 that keeps further warming below 2° F; 

• Restore the Council on Environmental Quality’s budget and staff (from 24 full-time 

employees to at least 45);

• Persuade Congress to reinstate the Office of Technology Assessment;

• Set robust efficiency standards and fully exploit existing standard setting authority 

(DOE);

• Establish a Federal Advisory Committee to recommend criteria for siting and 

operation of renewable energy generation and transmission options on public and 

private lands;

• Rescind Executive Orders 13211 and 13212 expediting energy projects on federal 

lands, and reinstate the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling that expired on 

October 1, 2008; and

• Maximize light-duty fuel economy standards to 35 mpg for 2015 and 42 mpg for 2020.

Transition to Green (Green)

Transition to Green, at more than 390 pages, is by far the most detailed plan. It provides 

three priority recommendations for each federal government agency, followed by key 

administrative, legislative, and budgetary policy actions for the first 100 days (between 

Inauguration Day and Earth Day) of the new administration. This plan focuses on 

restoring environmental quality more than any other plan. Four priority areas for action 

include: clean energy and climate change, federal budget and stimulus legislation to 

achieve national environmental and health goals, re-establishing the White House as a 

leader on clean energy and the environment, and putting the right people in the right jobs.

Summarizing this plan in one page is a challenge, but key highlights that focus mainly on 

clean energy are highlighted in the box below.

Selected Implementation Challenges

Transition to Green is a comprehensive set of recommendations. It is uniquely organized 

because it focuses on administrative action by government agencies. Implementation cost 

is unknowable, especially in areas where greater environmental litigation, for example, is 

suggested. On the whole, the plan suggests a “wish list” of actions that would lead to 

greater environmental protection and quality, but it does not attempt to determine the 

economic costs or economic efficiency of implementing the changes.
28

Selected Highlights of the Justinian Climate Plan

• Granting EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, 

and California permission to regulate them from motor vehicles;

• Reorienting and reorganizing the White House to address global warming;

• Eliminating subsidies that reward highly polluting energy resources, with advice on 

how to navigate the politics of subsidy removal;

• Managing more than 450 million acres of public lands to sequester carbon dioxide; 

and

• Exercising presidential leadership to encourage citizens to reduce GHG emissions 

associated with individual and household choices.

A Climate Plan for the New Administration (Justinian)

This plan is significantly different from others in that it focuses almost entirely on what 

the incoming administration can do to address the climate challenge without legislative 

concurrence. It was drafted by anonymous authors using the nom de plum, Justinian, a 

late era Roman emperor known for “restoration of the empire.” The plan offers unique, 

and sometimes arcane, suggestions.

One such example is the recommendation to eliminate the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget.14

Selected Implementation Challenges

According to 

the authors, OIRA needs to facilitate rather than impede the new administration’s efforts 

to address global warming, and the existing OIRA mandate does not allow that. 

A prominent recommendation is that the EPA should set a new source performance 

standard (NSPS) for coal plants equivalent to that of integrated gasification combinedcycle (IGCC) technology. It does so claiming that IGCC plants produce 12% less CO2

than state-of-the-art supercritical coal units, and 30% less than average coal plants in use 

today. While this claim is controversial given today’s IGCC units,

15

This plan faces fewer external challenges than the other plans because it does not rely on 

congressional action.

the real intent seems 

to be for the future capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide, which is anticipated to be 

more feasible on IGCC than pulverized coal plants.

The Justinian Plan also notes that the United States should follow the example of China 

in using “environmental dispatch” rather than economic dispatch on our power plants. In 

many areas of the United States, however, this is already the case because wind, solar, 

and other renewable sources of power have the lowest marginal costs (no fuel costs

combined with the production tax credit) and are almost always the first plants dispatched.

 14 Or at least reworking Executive Order 12866, which directs OIRA to use cost-benefit analysis to review 

proposed regulations.

15 According to MIT, IGCC plants today emit slightly more carbon dioxide than supercritical plants. MIT, 

The Future of Coal, 2007, Table 3.5.
29

Selected Highlights in the Google Energy Plan by 2030

• A 33% reduction in electricity demand from EIA’s 2030 forecast due to end-use 

efficiency measures;

• 380 GW of wind power;

• 170 GW of solar PV and 80 GW of concentrating solar power (CSP);

• 80 GW of geothermal;

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles accounting for 90% of new car sales by 2030;

• Accelerating turnover of the entire vehicle fleet from 19 to 13 years by 2030;

• Creation of 9 million new jobs;

• Net financial savings of $820 million measured in undiscounted 2008 dollars; and

• A 41% reduction in national carbon dioxide emissions from today’s level.

Clean Energy 2030 (Google)

Google’s version 1.0 energy plan, written by Jeffery Greenblatt, was issued on October 1, 

2008. Version 2.0, which included updates based on public comments and the demands 

of a rapidly deteriorating economy, came out approximately six weeks later. 

Similar to the Repower America plan, it calls for a deployment of EE and RE options, 

and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. A key difference, however, is that it does so over a 

longer time frame without the need to decommission existing plants. It also attempts to 

track the cost of the plan. While Clean Energy 2030 tells a specific story of how much 

new energy will be deployed when, it provides little discussion of the policy tools or

institutional changes that could enable it. Specific targets identified in Clean Energy 2030 

are noted in the text box below.

Selected Implementation Challenges

The Google plan assumes modest growth in nuclear generating capacity (115 GW), and a 

complete phase-out of coal generation by 2030. It does not see CCS playing a role by 

then due to technical, legal, and economic barriers. By 2030, 22 million plug-in vehicles 

would be deployed and reportedly result in an 8% increase in electricity demand. 

While many of the targets noted in Clean Energy 2030 are similar to those called for in 

the Repower America or Pickens Plan, the schedule to achieve them is more generous. 

The extra 10 years to deploy wind, PV, geothermal, CSP, and plug-in vehicles make 

supply-chain distortions less likely.

The Google plan is likely to attract criticism for the lack of detail in its policy 

prescriptions rather than the relatively aggressive targets it proposes in the long term. It 

provides integrated “modeling results” more than it does a prescriptive plan for how we 

can overcome key energy challenges. It is unclear what combination of designs in a 

national RPS, a carbon price, and long-term PTC would achieve the targets called for by 

the plan. 
30

Selected Highlights of the Chamber of Commerce Plan

• Expanding production of domestic oil shale, oil sands, and other hydrocarbons;

• Doubling support for energy technology R&D, including a new ARPA-E program;

• Establishing a Climate Change Adaptation Program, but no mention of support for 

mandatory carbon mitigation policy;

• Establishing a new tax credit for retrofitting existing coal-fired power plants;

• Extending renewable energy tax credits for eight years;

• Fostering privately owned central facilities to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel; and

• Establishing a fund to be administered by utilities to invest in CCS.

A Transition Plan for Securing America’s Energy Future 

(Commerce)

This plan identifies 13 pillar energy issues for the administration, Congress, states, and 

private-sector entities to address, with timelines for each issue. It calls for fundamental 

change in our future energy policy. It echoes many of the national security concerns 

raised in the SAFE plan, but focuses more on the need for traditional domestic energy, 

including nuclear power. Although the plan calls for expanded study of climate change, it 

does not call for carbon mitigation policy that might constrain fossil energy options. The 

plan recommends expanding the leasing program for oil shale and other frontier 

hydrocarbons. It also voices less confidence in government regulation and oversight, and 

more in market-based solutions. Many incentives are thus recommended in the form of 

expanded tax credits and tax depreciation. 

Retired General James Jones led the development of this plan for the Chamber of 

Commerce. After the plan was released in November 2008, Jones was appointed to head 

the National Security Council in the incoming Obama administration. The new advisor 

has noted his desire to stay involved in energy issues that affect national security. 

Selected Implementation Challenges

Some observers may oppose the plan because it calls for a reduction in “overly 

burdensome regulations” at a time when public confidence in markets is at a nadir. 

Others will find the lack of urgency to mitigate greenhouse gases a drawback. More than 

other plans, however, this one takes a comprehensive view of the role that different 

public and private organizations should play in our energy future, and offers timelines for 

action by each.
31

Selected Highlights of the Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery 

Initiative

• State energy efficiency grants program ($13 billion) allocated to utilities, school 

districts, cooperatives, and energy service companies (ESCOs) in two tranches. The 

first tranche comes with no conditions, but the second would depend on state action 

on utility reform (decoupling) and building code requirements; 

• Congress to appropriate $6 billion in funding previously authorized in the Energy 

Security and Independence Act of 2007 for energy efficiency and conservation block 

grants. The grants would be offered to local governments, again with a second 

tranche of funding dependent on the level of action achieved during the first; 

• A $3 billion component to renovate schools with green attributes, along with $500 

million for workforce training; and

• $500 million to support new and existing programs operated by DOE and EPA. The 

two agencies should develop guidance for states and local government to ensure 

efficient spending on the two grant programs noted above.

Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative (EEI+)16

This is the most recently issued plan of those explored in this paper, and has helped shape 

development of parts of the economic stimulus package. The initiative calls for a national 

goal of retrofitting 2 million buildings during the next two years. The plan tallies direct 

implementation costs of roughly $33 billion to carry out the dozen primary 

recommendations. It was designed to be implemented quickly, and would largely operate 

under existing agencies and programs. No estimates are provided of the amount of energy 

that might be saved,

17 or the number of new jobs that would be created. 

Selected Implementation Challenges 

The ultimate cost of several of the recommendations is difficult to estimate because they 

call for tax credits or matching funds that may not be limited by ceilings. Although the 

recommendations to use block grants as the primary funding mechanism has advantages 

regarding supporting established programs at the local level, there is also the potential for 

disconnect between federal and state or local priorities. Finally, it is possible that energy 

efficiency priorities will be mischaracterized, resulting in less than optimal spending.

These are risks that any quick-impact spending plans face.

 16 The Alliance to Save Energy, the Energy Future Coalition, and the Natural Resources Defense Council 

are the three nongovernment organizations (NGOs) that partnered with EEI in this plan. 17 One news story, however, notes that “All told, the program might drop the country’s energy consumption 

by half a percent each year for 20 years.” It is not clear who made this estimate (see Hargreaves 2008). 
32

Appendix B – List of Selected National Energy Plans

Author Date 

Issued

Title Source

25x25.org Dec-08 Recommendations for Economic Recovery and a Clean 

Energy Future: 25x25 National Steering Committee

http://www.25x25.org/storage/25x25/documents/Economic

Recovery/economic_recovery_recommendations12_15_08.pdf

Al Gore / Repower 

America 2008 Repower America/We can solve it.org (“Repower”) http://www.wecansolveit.org/content/solutions

American Chemistry 

Council May-08

Remarks by Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO, 

American Chemistry Council — Nuclear Energy 

Assembly: Energizing a Low-Carbon Future Nuclear 

Energy Institute

http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_acc/sec_mediakits.as

p?CID=217&DID=7337

American Small 

Business League Jan-09 Obama Windfall Profits Tax on Oil and Gas Industry Could Fund Stimulus Plan http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1249

American Wind 

Energy Association 2008 Wind Energy for New Era http://www.newwindagenda.org/

Apollo Alliance Sep-08 The New Apollo Program: Clean Energy, Good Jobs 

(“Apollo”)

http://apolloalliance.org/apollo-14/the-full-report/

Brookings Institute 2008 Memo to the President: Build a Secure Energy Future http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/1111_energy_secur

ity_memo.aspx

Brookings Institute Feb-09 Energy Discovery-Innovation Institutes: A Step toward 

America’s Energy Sustainability

Business Council for 

Sustainable Energy Jan-09

Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Program 

Recommendations for Inclusion in 2009 Economic 

Stimulus

http://www.bcse.org/images/pdf/bcseecrecvryrecssenfnl.pdf

Center for American 

Progress Sep-08 Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy (“CAP”)

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/09/pdf/green

_recovery.pdf

Center for American 

Progress Nov-07 Capturing the Energy Opportunity: Creating a Low-Carbon Economy

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/11/energy_c

hapter.html

Center for American 

Progress 2008 Change for America – A Progressive Blueprint for America for the 44th President. National Energy Council Chapters.

http://images2.americanprogress.org/CAPAF/2008/changef

oramerica/WhiteHouse_04_Stern_Hayes.pdf

U.S. Chamber of 

Commerce Sep-08 Blueprint for Securing America’s Energy Future http://www.energyxxi.org/xxi/default
33

Author Date 

Issued

Title Source

U.S. Climate Action 

Partnership(USCAP) Jan-09 A Blueprint for Legislative Action: Consensus Recommendations for U.S. Climate Protection Legislation http://www.us-cap.org/pdf/USCAP_Blueprint.pdf

U.S. Conference of 

Mayors Dec-08 Mainstreet Economic Recovery: “Ready to Go” Jobs and Infrastructure Projects

http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/defa

ult.asp?Area=Energy

U.S. Conference of 

Mayors Nov-08 Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S. Economy http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/GreenJobsReport.pdf

Council on

Competitiveness Feb-08 Progressive Dialogue I: The Energy-Competitiveness Relationship http://www.compete.org/publications/detail/407/define/

Council on 

Competitiveness Aug-08 Progressive Dialogue II: Demand Drivers for Sustainable Energy Solutions http://www.compete.org/publications/detail/563/discover/

Council on 

Competitiveness Oct-08 100-Day Energy Action Plan for 44th President

http://www.compete.org/news/entry/560/council-oncompetitiveness-challenges-next-president-to-execute-100-

day-energy-action-plan-for-america/

Demand Response 

and Smart Grid 

Coalition

Nov-08

Demand Response and Smart Grid Policy 

Recommendations for the Obama Administration and 

111th Congress

http://www.drsgcoalition.org/policy/DRSG_Policy_Recomm

endations_to_Accelerate_DR_and_Smart_Grid-2008-11-

24.pdf

Dow Plan Nov-08 Dow’s Energy Plan for America http://news.dow.com/dow_news/pdfs/dow_energy_plan.pdf

Edison Electric 

Institute, + 3 NGOs Dec-08 Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative

http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/retail_services_and_deli

very/wise_energy_use/2008-12-

19FinalEEPolicyRecommendations1947Clean4.pdf

26 Environmental

Groups Nov-08 Transition to Green: Leading the way to a healthy environment, a green economy, and a sustainable future http://docs.nrdc.org/legislation/files/leg_08112401a.pdf

FBR Capital Markets 

Corporation Dec-08

Testimony of Kevin Brook, Senior VP of Energy Policy, Oil 

and Alternative Energy, before the U.S. Senate 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Google.org Oct-08 Clean Energy 2030: Google’s proposal for reducing U.S. 

dependence on fossil fuels http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/15x31uzlqeo5n/1#

Harvard: Energy 

Technology 

Innovation Policy

Oct-08 Memo to the Next President: Addressing the Energy Crisis

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/18590/mem

o_to_the_next_president.html?breadcrumb=%2Fproject%2

F10%2Fenergy_technology_innovation_policy

Harvard: Belfer 

Center 2008

“For the Next President: Center Scholars Suggest Priority 

Actions on Security, Climate/Energy and the Financial 

Crisis”

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/18600/for_th

e_next_president.html
34

Author Date 

Issued

Title Source

Heritage Foundation Jun-07 Twelve Principles to Guide U.S. Energy Policy http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/

bg2046.cfm

ICLEI Dec-08 Empowering Local Government Climate Action: Blueprint 

for the New President and 111th Congress 

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/affectingpolicy/Climate%20Action%20Blueprint.pdf

Independent 

Petroleum 

Association of 

America (IPAA)

May-08 Global Climate Change: Concerns and Impacts http://www.ipaa.org/news/docs/Climate-ConcernsImpacts—

May2008.pdf

Institute for the 

Analysis of Global 

Security (IAGS)

May-08 Rising Oil Prices, Declining National Security. Testimony 

by Anne Korin to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs http://www.iags.org/Korin_HFRC_052208.pdf

James Hansen Dec-08 Letter to Barack and Michelle Obama http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_DearMi

chelleAndBarack.pdf

James Hansen Dec-08 Tell Barack Obama the Truth – The Whole Truth http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_Obama

_revised.pdf

John McCain Jun-08 Lexington Project: A Comprehensive Plan to Break 

Dependence on Foreign Oil John McCain 

Justinian Nov-08 A Climate Plan for the New Administration http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcqm4999_1f7h4xjgm

National Association 

of State Energy 

Officials (NASEO)

Dec-08

Testimony of Malcolm D. Woolf, Director of the Maryland 

Energy Administration, before the Committee on Energy 

and Natural Resources

National 

Commission on 

Energy Policy

Dec-04 Ending the Energy Stalemate http://www.energycommission.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction

/i/1088

National 

Commission on 

Energy Policy

Apr-07 Energy Commission Proposes Plan to Cut Total U.S. 

Climate Emissions in First Year of Program

http://www.energycommission.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetail

s/i/1548/pid/500

National Electrical 

Manufacturers 

Association (NEMA)

Nov-08 Recommendations to President-elect Obama on Key 

Electro-industry Issues

http://www.nema.org/gov/upload/PresidentElect%20Barack%20Obama%20letter-3.pdf

National Electrical 

Manufacturers 

Association (NEMA)

Dec-08 Recommendations to Congress on Economic and 

Infrastructure Stimulus

http://www.nema.org/gov/upload/Comp%20Stimulus%20Le

tter.pdf
35

Author Date 

Issued

Title Source

Obama – Biden Nov-08 New Energy for America Plan http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speec

h_080308.pdf

Pew Center on 

Global Climate 

Change

Nov-08 “U.S. Climate Action: The Path Forward.” Article by 

Eileen Claussen and Manik Roy http://www.pewclimate.org/op-ed/climate-action/11-14-08

Pew Center on 

Global Climate 

Change

Jan-09 Congressional testimony of Eileen Claussen – USCAP 

Recommendations for Climate Legislation

http://www.pewclimate.org/testimony/claussen/uscaprecommendations

Peterson Institute for 

International 

Economics and WRI

Feb-09

Policy Brief: A Green Global Recovery? Assessing US 

Economic Stimulus and the Prospects for International 

Coordination

http://www.wri.org/publication/green-global-recovery

The Pickens Plan Aug-08 The Pickens Plan http://www.pickensplan.com/index.php

Progressive Policy 

Institute Jan-09

Memos to the Next President: Putting Energy in the White 

House, Energy Efficiency as Economic Stimulus, Making 

America the World’s Clean Car Leader, Establishing a 

Global Environmental Organization (GEO), America’s 

Nuclear Waste and What to Do With It

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?contentid=254879&knl

gAreaID=450020&subsecid=900193

Rocky Mountain 

Institute Jan-09 Top Federal Energy Policy Goals http://www.rmi.org/images/PDFs/Energy/RMI-Top-FederalEnergy-Policies.pdf

Securing America's 

Future Energy Sep-08

A National Strategy for Energy Security: 

Recommendations to the Nation on Reducing U.S. Oil 

Dependence

http://www.secureenergy.org/site/page.php?node=353&id=

57

Senator Bingaman Sep2008 Bingaman Sets the Table for Next Congress

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Pre

ssReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=aa1c420f-ec38-43ea8c5b-3a720e3ca5ae&Month=9&Year=2008&Party=0

Western Governors 

Association (WGA) Nov-08 Letter to President-elect Barack Obama http://www.westgov.org/wga/testim/obama-energy11-20-08.pdf

World Resource 

Institute (WRI) and 

the Center for 

Strategic and 

International Studies 

(CSIS)

Jan-09 Roadmap for a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Economy http://www.wri.org/publication/roadmap-for-a-secure-lowcarbon-energy-economy
36

Appendix C – Additional Selected Policy Recommendation Examples

Issue Policy Select Examples Plans with Similar 

Recommendations 

Energy 

(General) 

Create a New 

Executive Office 

The president should establish a White House National Energy Council similar to the 

National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council (SAFE).

SAFE; Justinian; CAP; 

Green; Commerce

Reorganize OMB The president should significantly reduce the authority of the Office of Information 

and Regulatory Affairs by repealing Executive Order 12866 (Justinian). Green; Justinian

Increase R&D 

Funding

Increase energy R&D funding levels tenfold (SAFE). SAFE

Increase energy (or clean energy) R&D two times current levels at a minimum. Apollo; Commerce; 

CAP; Green

Increase energy R&D funding three times current levels (Compete). Compete

Job Creation

Promote Green 

Workforce 

Training 

Initiatives

Expand the Green Jobs Act in EISA, double federal support for national service 

programs, and support state and local programs (Apollo).

Apollo; SAFE; 

Compete

The Department of Labor should assess, classify, and widely publicize the needs for 

energy-related occupations (Compete). Compete

A "Green Vet Initiative" should provide support and jobs training for veterans (NEA). NEA

Create a public service Clean Energy Jobs Corps, modeled after Ameri-corps (CAP). CAP; Commerce

Congress should fully fund the America COMPETES Act; and reform visa and 

immigration policies to enhance retention of U.S.-educated graduates (Commerce). Commerce

Carbon 

Emissions 

National Capand-Trade 

Program

Implement a national cap-and-trade program to reduce GHG emissions 80% below 

1990 levels by 2050. Auction permits and use revenues to invest in renewables 

(Green).

Green; NEA; Apollo; 

CAP

Lead 

International 

Engagement

The U.S. should re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change 

(UNFCC) and invigorate the Major Economies (MEM) efforts, leading major carbonemitting countries toward effective reduction strategies (NEA).

NEA; Commerce; 

Justinian; CAP; Green
37

Issue Policy Select Examples Plans with Similar 

Recommendations 

Fossil and 

Nuclear 

Energy

Expand Domestic 

Fossil Fuel 

Production

Increase access to U.S. oil and natural gas reserves on the Outer Continental Shelf 

with sharply increased and expanded environmental protections (SAFE). SAFE; Commerce

Incentivize enhanced oil recovery extraction processes on existing fields (NEA). NEA; SAFE

Repeal Section 526 of EISA, currently preventing the government from utilizing coalto-liquids or oil shale (Commerce). Commerce; SAFE

The president and Congress should actively support the construction of the Alaska 

natural gas pipeline (Commerce).

Commerce; SAFE; 

NEA

Reduce Fossil 

Fuel Industry 

Subsidies

The president should create an independent commission to make recommendations 

for eliminating subsidies for highly polluting industries; Congress should establish 

authority for this commission similar to the past Base Closure and Realignment 

Commission (Justinian).18

Justinian; Apollo; 

Green; CAP; Compete; 

SAFE

Strategic 

Petroleum 

Reserve (SPR)

Evaluate use of the SPR, to possibly include refined products, and expand the 

reserve to 1 billion barrels as required under EPAct (Commerce).

Commerce; SAFE; 

NEA

Advance 

Power Plant 

Emissions 

Controls

Establish an emissions performance standard for all new coal-fired facilities 

equivalent to best available CCS technology; use federal funds to offset additional 

costs of implementing CCS technology (CAP).

CAP; Commerce; 

SAFE; Green

Use the Clean Air Act to declare that global warming pollution endangers public 

health and welfare, and to set standards for power plants, vehicles, and fuels. 

(Green)

Justinian; Green

Congress should NOT use the Clean Air Act or the Endangered Species Act to 

regulate carbon emissions (Commerce). Commerce

Congress should enact a new Section 48C tax credit to retrofit existing coal-fired 

plants and expand the clean coal investment tax credit program to stimulate 

construction of IGCC plants (Commerce).

Commerce 

Nuclear Energy

Congress should allow the private sector to manage nuclear waste, and the federal 

government should proceed with Yucca Mountain licensing (Commerce).

Commerce (Green 

opposes)

Continue the licensing process for Yucca Mountain and increase funding levels for 

loan guarantees for new nuclear generation (SAFE).

SAFE; Commerce 

(Green opposes)

 18 In addition to fossil fuels, Justinian includes reducing subsidies for nuclear energy and ethanol in this recommendation. 
38

Issue Policy Select Examples Plans with Similar 

Recommendations 

Renewable 

Energy

Federal RPS Implement a federal renewable portfolio standard requiring 10% of electricity 

consumed in the United States to be derived from renewable energy by 2012 (NEA). NEA; CAP

Increase Multiyear R&D 

Investments 

Create a Clean Energy Investment Corporation to manage major EERE investments, 

in addition to supporting local communities, from cap-and-trade revenues (Apollo).

Apollo; CAP; NEA; 

Green

DOE should establish, and Congress should fund, a new ARPA-E program to 

support high-risk, exploratory research with great potential for breakthroughs 

(Commerce).

Commerce (SAFE 

cautions)

Accelerate 

Deployment of 

RE Technologies

Create a $200 billion National Clean Energy Bank to provide debt financing and 

drive private investment in EERE technologies and infrastructure (Compete).

Compete; Apollo; 

Commerce; CAP

DOE should spend $250 million funding public-private partnerships to create 

regional R&D test-beds and commercial pilot projects (Compete). Compete

Expand EISA programs aimed at biofuels infrastructure, such as pilot grant 

programs to invest in fuel-distribution corridors (CAP). CAP

Expand Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Programs to provide 

mezzanine financing for start-up companies (Compete). Compete

Approve longer-term renewable energy tax credits, such as a 10-year extension of 

the production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) (Apollo).

Apollo; NEA; SAFE; 

Commerce

Treasury should request that Congress make the renewable production tax credit 

(PTC) and the solar investment tax credits (ITC) refundable (Green). Green

Congress should extend the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program to enable 

public power systems and electric cooperatives to seek alternative-financing 

mechanisms for projects ineligible for production tax credits (Commerce).

Commerce; Green; 

CAP

FERC should set national interconnection standards for a 21st century interoperable 

grid and transmission system (Compete). Compete; Justinian
39

Issue Policy Select Examples Plans with Similar 

Recommendations 

Energy 

Efficiency

Buildings

DOE should rapidly promulgate new appliance standards as required by both 

EPAct2005 and EISA2007 (Commerce).

Commerce; Obama; 

CAP; Justinian; Green

Congress should clarify DOE's authority on setting multiple performance standards 

for appliances and efficiency equipment products (EEI+). EEI+

Federally prioritize and support decoupling utilities so that shareholder profit is based 

on reliability and performance as opposed to total energy production (NEA).

NEA; Apollo; Green; 

CAP

Congress should provide $6 billion to local governments for the Energy Efficiency 

and Conservation Block Grant Program authorized by EISA; distribution should be 

tiered: $2 billion without conditions, and $4 billion contingent on successes (EEI+).

EEI+; CAP

Congress should increase funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program to $1 

billion in 2009 and $1.4 billion in 2010 (EEI+). EEI+; NEA; CAP

Vehicles

Advanced battery R&D should become a top national priority, funded with at least 

$500 million per year (SAFE). SAFE; Commerce

Extend and modify federal subsidies for energy-efficient vehicles; half of all cars 

purchased after 2012 by the federal government should be hybrid or electric (NEA).

NEA; SAFE; Apollo; 

Commerce

Improve fuel-economy 4% annually after the 35 mpg 2020 target is reached (SAFE). SAFE; NEA

Eliminate tariffs on imported ethanol over a period of three years (SAFE). SAFE; Commerce

Implement a "Health Care for Hybrids" plan to reduce legacy costs in the auto 

industry, in return for investment and production of more efficient vehicles (CAP). CAP

Accelerate the turnover of older vehicles through feebates, offering incentives for 

efficient vehicles and vouchers or cash for old vehicles (Google). Google

Congress should make the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) a 

variable credit based on oil prices (CAP). CAP; Commerce

Grid 

Infrastructure

Advance 

Smart Grid 

The Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program should be expanded (CAP). CAP; Commerce; NEA

Direct states to implement time-of-day pricing for electricity and grant FERC 

authority to backstop an implementation timeline (SAFE). SAFE

Expand 

Transmission 

Capacity

FERC should simplify the siting of transmission facilities after being given the same 

authority as Section 7 under the National Gas Act; DOE should become the lead 

agency to coordinate permits for interstate transmission after modification of Section 

216(h) of the Federal Power Act (Commerce).

Commerce
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1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)

March 2009

2. REPORT TYPE

Technical Report

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4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

A Comparative Review of a Dozen National Energy Plans: Focus on 

Renewable and Efficient Energy

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER

DE-AC36-08-GO28308

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6. AUTHOR(S)

J. Logan and T.L. James

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NREL/TP-6A2-45046

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SAO7.9C50

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Blvd.

Golden, CO 80401-3393

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NREL/TP-6A2-45046

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NREL

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14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words)

Dozens of groups have submitted energy, environmental, and economic recovery plans for consideration by the 

Obama administration and the 111th Congress. This report provides a comparative analysis of 12 national proposals, 

focusing especially on energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) market and policy issues.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

NREL; energy plans; energy; economic recovery; environmental; energy efficiency; renewable energy; Repower 

America (The Gore Plan); Pickens Plan; The New Apollo Program; A National Strategy for Energy Security; Green 

Recovery; A 100-Day Energy Action Plan; New Energy for America; Transition to Green; A Climate Plan for the New 

Administration; Clean Energy 2030 (Version 2.0); A Transition Plan for Securing America’s Energy Future; Energy 

Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative

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