““GOING GREENGOING GREEN””: THE U.S. : THE U.S. DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN

ECONOMYECONOMY

U.S. Consulate Milan U.S. Consulate Milan Natalie HardenNatalie Harden

February 22, 2012February 22, 2012

WALL-E’s WorldWALL-E’s World

Why Do We Need to Why Do We Need to ““Go GreenGo Green””??

Global warmingGlobal warming Energy securityEnergy security Energy costsEnergy costs Economic growthEconomic growth

Hungry for Energy?Hungry for Energy? Americans produce and consume more Americans produce and consume more

energy than any other nation and consume energy than any other nation and consume more energy per capita than most nations.more energy per capita than most nations.

The U.S. is the 2The U.S. is the 2ndnd largest emitter of largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, after greenhouse gases in the world, after China. EU is third.China. EU is third.

Traditional energy sources (gas, oil) are Traditional energy sources (gas, oil) are becoming more scarce and will eventually becoming more scarce and will eventually be exhausted.be exhausted.

““I am convinced that whoever I am convinced that whoever builds a clean energy economy, builds a clean energy economy, whoever is at the forefront of whoever is at the forefront of that, is going to own the 21st that, is going to own the 21st century global economy.  century global economy. 

Last year, we made the largest Last year, we made the largest investment in clean energy in our investment in clean energy in our history.  history. 

It's an investment that's already It's an investment that's already leading to new jobs and new leading to new jobs and new businesses across the country.businesses across the country.””

PRESIDENT OBAMA ON PRESIDENT OBAMA ON ENERGY POLICYENERGY POLICY

President Obama at Meeting with Governors on President Obama at Meeting with Governors on Energy Policy. February 3, 2010Energy Policy. February 3, 2010

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION GREEN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION GREEN ENERGY GOALSENERGY GOALS

1.1. Job CreationJob Creation

2.2. Reduction of energy consumption &Reduction of energy consumption &Diversification of energy sourcesDiversification of energy sources

3.3. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissionsReduction of greenhouse gas emissions

COPENHAGEN CONFERENCECOPENHAGEN CONFERENCE

““If America leads in developing clean energy, we will lead If America leads in developing clean energy, we will lead in growing our economy, in putting our people back to in growing our economy, in putting our people back to work, and in leaving a stronger and more secure country work, and in leaving a stronger and more secure country to our children.to our children.””

President Obama at Copenhagen Conference, December 18, 2009President Obama at Copenhagen Conference, December 18, 2009

““WeWe’’ll invest…in clean energy ll invest…in clean energy technology – an investment that will technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.  jobs for our people. 

WeWe’’ve begun to reinvent our energy ve begun to reinvent our energy policy…Wepolicy…We’’re issuing a challenge. re issuing a challenge. WeWe’’re telling Americare telling America’’s scientists s scientists and engineers that if they assemble and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on the hardest fields, and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, weproblems in clean energy, we’’ll fund ll fund the Apollo projects of our time.the Apollo projects of our time.””   

OBAMAOBAMA’’S ENERGY POLICY – S ENERGY POLICY – STATE OF THE UNION 2011STATE OF THE UNION 2011

President Obama gave the annual President Obama gave the annual ““State of the State of the UnionUnion”” speech on January 26, 2011 speech on January 26, 2011

"As we recover from this recession, the "As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs - but only if we accelerate millions of jobs - but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the that transition. Only if we seize the moment."moment." - President Barack Obama - President Barack Obama

OBAMA GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVESOBAMA GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES

Stimulus Package:Stimulus Package: $80 billion dollars for the $80 billion dollars for the development of clean energy technologiesdevelopment of clean energy technologies

Target of reducing emissions Target of reducing emissions 17% by 202017% by 2020 and and 83%83% by 2050by 2050

25% of electricity from renewables by 202525% of electricity from renewables by 2025

The largest U.S. consumer of energyThe largest U.S. consumer of energy (the U.S. (the U.S. government) to reduce its emissions 28% by 2020government) to reduce its emissions 28% by 2020

Call on Congress to pass Call on Congress to pass Clean Energy LegislationClean Energy Legislation to to cut emissions cut emissions

OBAMA GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVESOBAMA GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES

Target of 80% Target of 80% of Americaof America’’s electricity to come s electricity to come from clean energy sources by 2035from clean energy sources by 2035

Call on Congress Call on Congress to cut billions of $ in subsidies to cut billions of $ in subsidies to oil companies to oil companies

Target of 1 million electric vehicles Target of 1 million electric vehicles on the road on the road by 2015by 2015

Call on Congress to explore and promote all Call on Congress to explore and promote all kinds of alternative energy kinds of alternative energy – wind, solar, nuclear, – wind, solar, nuclear, clean coal and natural gas clean coal and natural gas

And What Else?And What Else?

40% increase in vehicle fuel efficiency by 40% increase in vehicle fuel efficiency by 20202020

Five-fold increase in biofuel supply by Five-fold increase in biofuel supply by 20222022

Phase-out of incandescent bulb sales in Phase-out of incandescent bulb sales in 2012-20142012-2014

35% increase in energy-efficiency of gov35% increase in energy-efficiency of gov’’t t buildingsbuildings

Fuel-efficiency rules for govFuel-efficiency rules for gov’’t vehiclest vehicles Tax credits and other incentives for wind, Tax credits and other incentives for wind,

solar, and nuclear powersolar, and nuclear power

Who Pays the Bill?Who Pays the Bill? Federal government – energy R&D, Federal government – energy R&D,

incentives for industriesincentives for industries Carbon (emission) trade revenueCarbon (emission) trade revenue Venture capitalists, angel investors fund Venture capitalists, angel investors fund

clean-tech startupsclean-tech startups Major investment funds – large projectsMajor investment funds – large projects Business and individual consumers – new Business and individual consumers – new

technology applicationstechnology applications

International Cooperation is International Cooperation is KeyKey

U.S. and other countriesU.S. and other countries’’ companies help companies help China develop a smart grid marketChina develop a smart grid market

The U.S. and its partners share experience The U.S. and its partners share experience with India on improving building energy with India on improving building energy efficiencyefficiency

Brazil and the U.S. jointly aid 5 countries in Brazil and the U.S. jointly aid 5 countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean in developing their own biofuel industriesdeveloping their own biofuel industries

Allegheny College works with GermanyAllegheny College works with Germany’’s s Siemens on green building upgradesSiemens on green building upgrades

A Global IssueA Global Issue

The U.S., EU, China, Japan, India and The U.S., EU, China, Japan, India and Brazil to have a decisive influenceBrazil to have a decisive influence

Emerging markets: Most rapid growth Emerging markets: Most rapid growth in energy demand/carbon emissionsin energy demand/carbon emissions

Can global interest be reconciled with Can global interest be reconciled with national priorities? national priorities?

How will the recession and financial How will the recession and financial crisis affect energy choices?crisis affect energy choices?

Durban: treaty to limit carbon Durban: treaty to limit carbon emissionsemissions

Legally binding deal comprising all Legally binding deal comprising all countries, which will be prepared countries, which will be prepared by 2015, and to take effect in by 2015, and to take effect in 20202020

Progress regarding the creation of Progress regarding the creation of a Green Climate Fund to distribute a Green Climate Fund to distribute US$100bn per year to help poor US$100bn per year to help poor countries adapt to climate impactscountries adapt to climate impacts

U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY – WHAT U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY – WHAT ARE WE ALREADY DOING TOGETHER?ARE WE ALREADY DOING TOGETHER?

Italcementi is a leader in American production of new Italcementi is a leader in American production of new ““smog-eatingsmog-eating”” concrete – used in U.S. highways & roads concrete – used in U.S. highways & roads

General Motors working with Politecnico di Torino to General Motors working with Politecnico di Torino to develop more efficient diesel enginesdevelop more efficient diesel engines

Green Building Council of Italy launched Italian version Green Building Council of Italy launched Italian version of U.S. sustainable building standards (LEED) to be used of U.S. sustainable building standards (LEED) to be used in Italyin Italy

And many more examples of U.S. and Italian And many more examples of U.S. and Italian cooperation to develop clean technology…cooperation to develop clean technology…

U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY – U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY – WHAT NEXT?WHAT NEXT?

Continue to expand research exchanges, travel by Continue to expand research exchanges, travel by local policymakers, and trade delegationslocal policymakers, and trade delegations

Increase green sector joint ventures, especially for Increase green sector joint ventures, especially for small and medium-sized businessessmall and medium-sized businesses

Strengthen U.S.-Italian venture capital and private Strengthen U.S.-Italian venture capital and private equity investments equity investments

What can an individual do?What can an individual do? Are you ready to change the way you Are you ready to change the way you

live? The climate crisis can be solved.live? The climate crisis can be solved.

You can reduce carbon emissionsYou can reduce carbon emissions Buy energy efficient appliances, Buy energy efficient appliances,

lightbulbslightbulbs Adjust your thermostat, recycle, buy a Adjust your thermostat, recycle, buy a

hybrid car, walk, ride a bicycle, use hybrid car, walk, ride a bicycle, use mass transit mass transit

What can an individual do?What can an individual do? Tell your parents not to ruin the world Tell your parents not to ruin the world

that you will live in.that you will live in. Switch to renewable sources of energy.Switch to renewable sources of energy. Call your power company to see if they Call your power company to see if they

offer green energy; if they don’t, ask offer green energy; if they don’t, ask them why not.them why not.

Vote for leaders who pledge to solve Vote for leaders who pledge to solve this crisis.this crisis.