Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
technologies, the credit's duration is key to encouraging companies and their
lenders to undertake the substantial investments and build an industry over time.
Several states have taken the lead in encouraging the deployment of advanced
energy technologies, particularly in renewable energy. For example, in the past 7
years, Texas tripled its renewable energy use as a result of its renewable portfolio
standard. Similarly, Minnesota's ethanol program has displaced 10 percent of
gasoline consumption with ethanol. Many other states have initiatives to stimulate
renewable energy generation as well. States' initiatives that diversify our energy
portfolio and reduce harmful emissions are positive steps. Similarly, foreign
countries, including Brazil, Denmark, and Germany, have sustained long-term
efforts using mandates and/or financial incentives to deploy advanced energy
technologies that are providing, or are expected in the future to provide,
significant amounts of energy. Approaches taken by these countries may provide
useful insights and opportunities for fostering the deployment of advanced energy
technologies.
R
ECOMMENDATION TO THE
C
ONGRESS
To meet the nation's rising demand for energy, reduce its economic and
national security vulnerability to crude oil supply disruptions, and minimize
adverse environmental effects, the Congress should consider further stimulating
the development and deployment of a diversified energy portfolio by focusing R
and D funding on advanced energy technologies.
A
GENCY
C
OMMENTS
We provided DOE with a draft of this report for its review and comment. In
its written response, DOE did not comment on our recommendation to the
Congress. (See app. V.) DOE provided technical comments, which we have
incorporated as appropriate.
As arranged with your offices, unless you publicly announce its contents
earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days from the report
date. At that time, we will send copies to interested congressional committees, the
Secretary of Energy, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and
other interested parties. We will also make copies available to others upon
request. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on the GAO Web site
at http://www.gao.gov .
