Energy Policy and Politics: An on-line course available to anyone
Hello, In this class, I introduce you to the general idea of policymaking – we cover ideas such as: the policy process, stakeholders, interests, values, conflict, and compromise. If you have had an environmental policy class, some of the material would be a review for you. If you haven’t had a policy class, then it’s a good introduction.
Of course, most of the class is spent looking at energy policy and politics. I tend to focus more on renewable energy, because these are to foundation of our future. But we also examine nuclear power and some fossil fuel issues.
We talk about subsidies, laws, and regulations. We examine things that are going on today, such the Trump Administration’s efforts to reverse the lighting efficiency standards or the vehicle efficiency standards.
We look at some of the key recent legislation.
And we examine the politics associated with the energy transition to renewable or clean energy from fossil fuels. For instance, we might look at the Keystone pipeline controversy, the arguments in Nevada about solar energy, or laws in Oklahoma that prevent communities from regulating fracking their jurisdictions, to name a few.
The course offers you a chance to explore a topic of interest to you - in energy studies - by writing a policy brief. A few examples of students' policy briefs are below.