Incentives-(a)


 * Carbaugh, Robert and Charles Wassell, Jr. “Reducing American Dependence on Oil.”** **__Challenge__ 49.6 (November/December 2006): 55-77.**

The authors, professors of economics at Central Washington University, argue that the rate at which the U.S. consumes oil and the rate at which it imports oil from other countries endanger national security by exposing the U.S. economy to oil shocks. This article mainly focuses on reduction of demand (as opposed to increased domestic production) as a means to decrease dependence on foreign oil. The authors list a number of options including rationing, (through both transferable and nontransferable coupons) increasing the gasoline tax, and implementing higher fuel economy requirements. The article is a good summary of a variety of options. (Katie Ertmer)

Parris, Thomas M. “Innovative Vehicle Technologies.” __Environment__ 48, 10 (2006): 3. The author focuses on how the increase price of oil has led to technological innovations in vehicles. The article discusses the investment of vehicle companies in hybrid technology and the exploration of other non-biomass technologies like hydrogen and natural gas. (Hector Lara)

Roach, Ronald. “Michigan State, DaimlerChrysler Test Brownfields for Biofuel Crops.” __Diverse Issues in Higher Education__ 23, 14 (2006): 38. The article focuses on a partnership between Michigan State University and DaimlerChrysler to address the concern of the nation’s food production if there is a push for biofuels. These two entities are examining the turning of contaminated lands, known as brownfields into green pastures. The hope is that through this, there can be a decrease in oil reliance. (Hector Lara)

Lynn Price, Ernst Worrell, “Barriers and Opportunities: A Review of Selected Successful Energy-Efficiency Programs,” Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. http://ies.lbl.gov/iespubs/47908.pdf This paper provides great information on how to get the industrial sector to be a part of energy efficiency programs. The paper is very clear and well organized. Barriers to getting the industrial sector more interested and involved in energy efficiency programs are outlined and explained. There are also descriptions of the approaches other countries have taken to foster industrial sector participation in energy efficiency, such as tax credits, subsidies, benchmarking, and informational programs. Voluntary agreements are highlighted as being a new approach and the benefits and successes of this approach are also outlined and described through an international lens. An evaluation of the experiences that have occurred with voluntary agreements is heavily focused on, which includes and evaluation of industry participation and key lessons that have been learned in attempting such an approach. --Kristine