Climate 2030 Blueprint Policies
Climate 2030: A National Blueprint for a Clean Energy Economy outlines a comprehensive set of smart policies to jump-start the transition to a clean energy economy.
Climate Policies
- Economywide cap-and-trade program with:
(See Cap and Trade Backgrounder)
- Auctioning of all carbon allowances
- Recycling of auction revenues to consumers and businesses
- Limits on carbon “offsets” to encourage “decarbonization” of the capped sectors
(See Benefits of Limiting Offsets) - Flexibility for capped businesses to over-comply with the cap and bank excess carbon allowances for future use
Industry and Buildings Policies
- An energy efficiency resource standard requiring retail electricity and natural gas providers to meet efficiency targets
- Minimum federal energy efficiency standards for specific appliances and equipment
- Advanced energy codes and technologies for buildings
- Programs that encourage more efficient industrial processes
- Wider reliance on efficient systems that provide both heat and power
- R&D on energy efficiency
Electricity Policies
- A renewable electricity standard for retail electricity providers
(See Real Energy Solutions) - R&D on renewable energy
- Use of advanced coal technology, with a carbon-capture-and-storage demonstration program
(See UCS Position on Geologic Carbon Sequestration)
Transportation Policies
- Standards that limit carbon emissions from vehicles
(See Clean Car Standards) - Standards that require the use of low-carbon fuels
(See Low Carbon Fuel Standard) - Requirements for deployment of advanced vehicle technology
- Smart-growth policies that encourage mixed-use development, with more public transit
- Smart-growth policies that tie federal highway funding to more efficient transportation systems
- Pay-as-you-drive insurance and other per-mile user fees
