The energy crisis of 2001, high prices for gas and electricity and worries of climate change have caused a growing awareness about energy issues in California. The problems are clear. This paper looks at the next step of finding and implementing solutions. In this case the contribution that solar photovoltaic and solar thermal generation could make toward solving the problem. This paper looks at technological change, the current state of solar energy research, current government policies on solar energy, and finally makes policy recommendations to meet the stated problem.

The research question animating this project is ‘what is the nature of neoliberalism’s influence on recent and contemporary US climate change policy?’ Situating itself against several growing bodies of literature which have sought to underscore the fetishism of markets in recent environmental and climate policy agendas under neoliberalism – e.g., the work of Heynen et al (2007) on ‘neoliberal environments’; Paterson and Newell’s (2010) work on neoliberalism and carbon markets; and the work of Dryzek et al (2003) on state forms and ecological modernization – this project argues that any such analysis must be predicated on a considerably more nuanced conception of (a) ‘neoliberalism’, (b) the historic role of states in fostering accumulation, and (c) the nature of policy development within any specific neoliberal context. Applying these theoretical re-conceptualizations to the American context, the project argues that a central tension informing contemporary US climate policy under neoliberalism can be understood a stand-off between two prevailing logics in the federal policy process: on the one hand, Washington’s attempt to build on its tradition of using state power to foster high-tech market development by cultivating the alternative energy realm as a developmental state project, and on the other, the anti-regulationist bent of neoliberalism which seeks to delegitimize the ‘pull’ policies required to ‘creatively destroy’ conventional energy and animate domestic alternative energy markets. Against the general conception of the US as a ‘climate laggard’ whose policy options are restricted market mechanisms and generally anathema to progressive ecological modernization, this body of work shows how the US has managed to develop a robust set of interventionist ‘push’ and ‘pull’ climate policies along ‘alternative policy pathways’, despite the prevailing anti-state rhetoric of neoliberalism.

Main purpose of this thesis is to give complex overview of energy policy development in Japan and to identify the impact of Fukushima accident on actual energy policy in Japan. Thesis is divided into five chapters. In the first chapter the emphasis is put on development in second half of 20th century in which were created foundations of Japanese energy policy. Second chapter is focused on analysis of energy policy during first decade of 21st century, when complex definition and structure of Japanese energy policy was established. In third chapter author addresses the impact of Fukushima accident on official energy policy of Japan. The emphasis is put on identification of main changes in government attitude to nuclear energy and its place in energy mix of the country. Fourth chapter involves analysis of influence of Fukushima accident on three pillars of Japanese energy policy -- economy, energy security and environment. In last chapter author studies reactions of other countries on events in Fukushima in context of nuclear energy. Thesis is closed by analysis of present trend in world nuclear energy.

This research investigates whether the South African Energy Regulator (NERSA) correctly prices the cost of equity, through looking at the petroleum storage sector. A model is built to simulate the current methodology for tariff setting and historical data is used to estimate the returns a regulated firm would have earned over the past 25 years. In addition, a benchmark cost of equity is calculated through a sample of US firms. Integrated firms are then decomposed to their revenue generating segments and cost of equity per segment is then estimated. The study finds that the methodology calculates a return lower than that earned by the market (measured through the J203). The study further finds that the risk to which the regulated company is exposed to, defined in terms of variability of retunes, is not significantly different than that of the market. Lastly, the study finds that the benchmark cost of equity is significantly higher than that calculated by the Regulator. Recommendation for Regulator consideration as well as for further research are provided. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

In U.S. homes, 22 percent and 6 percent of the consumption of electricity is devoted to satisfy cooling and heating demands, respectively. A warming climate alters these consumption patterns by increasing the demand for cooling and reducing the demand for heating. This dissertation uses econometric techniques to examine the effect of climate change on the U.S. power industry through the study of the responsiveness of electricity demand to changes in temperature, and the impact of a climate-induced demand on electricity price and expenditures. In the second chapter a fixed-effects model and a cointegration model at the state level are used to investigate the determinants of residential, commercial and industrial electricity consumption for the 48 contiguous states. The results indicate substantial geographical heterogeneity in the response of demand to cooling and heating degree days, with the Midwest showing the greatest sensitivity. Residential consumers are impacted the most; on average, they experience a 13-18 percent increase in expenditures. In the third chapter the standard method of modeling electricity consumption is extended by the analysis of a wide range of set points above and below 65 F, and by including wet bulb temperatures. The statistical results for Massachusetts validate the use of 65 F for the residential sector, but demonstrate that a set point of 55 F and wet bulb temperature best characterizes the commercial sector. Using the models generated with these set points, climate change is projected to raise residential and commercial demand by 2.6 percent and 4 percent, respectively. In the fourth chapter, previous analyses on climate-induced expenditures are improved by accounting for the dual impact that climate change has on the electric power sector: an increase in both demand and price. A projected 2.6 C rise in temperature by 2070 in Massachusetts increases electricity prices by 11 to 18 percent. This increase in price, together with the increase in demand estimated in chapter three, translates into a 5.8 percent rise in expenditures for an average household. The results clearly demonstrate that climate-driven change in electricity price is the main determinant of the expected change in expenditures for electricity by households in the state.

The paper studies the theoretical and practical application of public relations to the geopolitical nature of international energy projects in order to expand our understanding of the energy sector's domination of the current political and social environments. More specifically, the paper analyses how energy companies that exhibit close links to the state are able to create and cultivate beliefs in the legitimacy of their exploitation of society's resources in pursuit of their country's national political interests. The focus of the paper is a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the competition for legitimacy between Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH and Gazprom's South Stream Pipeline. The paper analyzes the discursive competition between the two pipelines over existence in, and legitimate domination of, the European discursive space. It then compares constructed narratives to quantitative factors that shape the European energy market and technical and financial specifications of each pipeline on the basis of its ability to adequately meet European energy demands and enhance European energy security. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate how Nabucco and South Stream have been able to overcome discursively their technical and financial shortcomings to become perceived as geopolitical tools in a...

The diploma thesis attends the phenomenon of energy cooperatives (also called co-ops or guilds) and relates it to theoretical framework and also to international context. The text is divided into three parts. First part explains the cooperatives from the inside - how do they work, how are they founded, how are they financed, what are their advantages etc. Second part deals with the energy cooperatives in context of theory of reflexive modernization, sustainable development and energy self-sufficiency. Knowledge explained in first and second part is exeplified by practical examples for better understanding. Third part contains of comparative case study that compares Denmark and The Czech republic from the point of view of energy policy development and conditions for development of energy cooperatives.

KOVALSKÁ, Jana. The Impact of Energy Policies of External Actors On Sudan Conflict. Praha, 2012. 71 s. Diplomová práce (Mgr.) Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta sociálních věd, Institut politologických studií. Katedra mezinárodních vztahů. Vedoucí diplomové práce PhDr. Tomáš Michalek. Abstract The thesis deals with the issue of oil exploitation companies and their impact on conflict in Sudan between the north and the south. In Sudan, the resurrection of civil war in 1983 corresponded with the oil dicovery on the borderlands between the two countries and oil has played important role also in the question of recent secession of South Sudan in January 2011 and reocurrence of violence between the two countries. The multi-national oil extraction companies are the carriers of oil money to the government so the thesis was examinig their impact on the conflict through the resources they provide the government with, the leverage they might have on the government and also direct impact on local communities. The conclusion was that the impact is negative and the capacities the companies have to influence it in positive way, are highly unexploited. Secondary research aim of the thesis was to understand the factors determining the behavior of the companies through their firm-specific intersts, relationship with the Government...

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第20016号 / エネ博第339号 / 新制||エネ||68(附属図書館) / 33112 / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー社会・環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 手塚 哲央, 教授 宇根﨑 博信, 准教授 MCLELLAN Benjamin / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第20017号 / エネ博第340号 / 新制||エネ||68(附属図書館) / 33113 / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー社会・環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 宇根﨑 博信, 教授 石原 慶一, 教授 手塚 哲央 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM