Energy Policy Iowa Green Party Iowa Industrial Energy Group Spring Conference April 12, 2016

Who I am Iowa House Candidate, 2014 Focus on election reform to allow third-party candidates to run without being “spoilers” Critical need to end gridlock, especially at the national level. Can only be addressed at the state level Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, Drake University Courses in environmental science, climate change, ecological economics, dynamic modeling

Green Party Platform: Ten Key Values 1.Grassroots Democracy 2.Social Justice and Equal Opportunity 3.Ecological Wisdom 4.Non-Violence 5.Decentralization 6.Community-Based Economics 7.Feminism and Gender Equity 8.Respect for Diversity 9.Personal and Global Responsibility 10.Future Focus and Sustainability

Green Party Platform: Ten Key Values

Green Party Platform Climate Change/Energy Reduce emissions by 95% from 1990 levels by (95.2% of 2013 levels of CO 2 e, according to US EPA) Fee and dividend system with strong international treaty to level the playing field Encourage energy conservation Increase funding for research Avoid reliance on alternatives like nuclear and biofuels Decentralize the grid Encourage “smart grid” upgrades

Starting Point: Climate Change is Real and Potentially Catastrophic.

Backstop technologies place cap on costs

Carbon fee and peak impact 1 gallon of gasoline produces 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) carbon, or 8.8 kg carbon dioxide. 1 kWh of electricity produces about 2.3 lbs (1.04 kg) carbon dioxide (depends upon region). $10/ton carbon dioxide tax is like a 9 cent tax on gasoline (2.6%), or a 0.5 cent tax per kWh electricity (5%).

Current policy is not efficient

One way to think about it Azar and Schneider, 2002, Ecological Economics, 42, 73-80

If anyone can do it…

Where are the Costs?

Are Those Costs Necessary?

Rooftop solar Advantages: Distributed Resilient Rapid transition Efficient land use Disadvantages: Higher cost per unit Requires finding ways to shift energy providers towards energy distributors.

Be wary of projections

Largest constraint on renewables?

Green Party Climate Plan Necessary Efficient Doable Job creating Technology driving Cheaper than we think