tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342651855089974722.post8703636088042017614..comments2023-10-22T07:09:40.782-04:00Comments on Old: America's irrational energy incentivesStephen Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12118017106106571684noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342651855089974722.post-13494800112464899382008-07-02T00:48:00.000-04:002008-07-02T00:48:00.000-04:00I am curious how Denmark achieved its efficiency, ...I am curious how Denmark achieved its efficiency, and more specifically, if it was through liberalization (i.e., letting power companies realize the benefits of increased efficiency in the form of high profits), or through mandates and regulations. On the page you (or whoever wrote it) mentioned that the process allows you to generate more power while emitted the same amount of greenhouse gases and that this allows companies to sell the unneeded pollution credits, which just makes me wonder if the technology and processes are viable/profitable in Denmark because of extra profits inherent in efficiency, or because of that plus the regulatory benefits.Stephen Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12118017106106571684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342651855089974722.post-10197695434510435342008-07-01T21:07:00.000-04:002008-07-01T21:07:00.000-04:00Hi Stephen. I am associated with Recycled Energy ...Hi Stephen. I am associated with Recycled Energy Development, Sean Casten's company. For a few more examples of how the government has been removing the incentives for efficient generation, you should check out this background document we put together: http://recycled-energy.com/_documents/media-kit/backgrounder.pdf -- but bear in mind that there are numerous others. <BR/><BR/>You asked specifically what interests keep the current system in place. Mainly, it's that utilities are doing well under the rules we have and don't want them changed. Think about it: utilities get guaranteed returns on their investments, unlike anyone else (a major regulatory hurdle); various rules make it very tough for competitors to emerge (e.g., independent power producers, unlike independent phone companies, can't lay an electric wire across a public street); and most basically, if we had more efficient production, everyone would be buying less power. That's a sweetheart deal that utilities don't want to lose. I don't blame them, either. But it's our job as citizens to pressure lawmakers to change the rules.<BR/><BR/>In terms of other countries, Denmark has tons of efficient power production that utilities the technologies Sean mentioned, getting over half their power from energy recycling and cogeneration. The U.S. rate languishes in the single digits. Sean and his dad Tom, who chairs the company, doubtless know more about Denmark's regulatory scheme, as well as that of other countries that produce power more efficiently than we do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com