New Report examines the “Hidden Costs of Energy”...
Unlike the benefits of energy, most of which are reflected in energy market prices, the production, distribution, and use of energy cause damages, many of which are not reflected in prices. When market failures like this occur, there may be a case for government interventions in the form of regulations, taxes, fees, tradable permits or other instruments that will motivate recognition of these "external" costs.
A new Academy report mandated by Congress and sponsored by the Department of Treasury, Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use defines, categorizes, and eliminates many of the external costs associated with electricity generation, motor vehicle transportation, and heating and identifies others that are difficult to monetize (e.g., national security costs and ecosystem effects). In the aggregate the costs that can be monetized are substantial, at least $120 b in 2005, chiefly from fossil fuel-generated air pollution effects on health.
Looking forward, the report estimates life cycle damages from electricity generation by biomass and wind, electric and hybrid vehicles, and vehicle fuel from biomass. Some but not all have lower damages that do coal and oil. Damages from climate change are estimated but not included in the aggregate number because of the uncertainties about damages over long time horizons and lack of agreement among experts about the discount rate to use in converting future costs into present dollars.
To read the press release for this report please go here...
To view the summary, please go here ...
Copies of the report can be obtained here...
This report was a collaborative effort between of the Academies' Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST), Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP), and Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES). The ad hoc study committee was chaired by Jared Cohon, President of Carnegie-Mellon University. Maureen Cropper, University of Maryland economist, was vice chair.
STEP Releases Report on Science and Technology Parks…
The STEP Board has released a summary of its March 2008 conference titled
Understanding Research, Science, and Technology Parks: Global Best Practices. The report examines efforts around the world to accelerate the transition of ideas from universities and public laboratories to commercial markets by providing high technology firms with shared facilities and geographical proximity to research expertise and each other.
The conference featured examples of parks in China, Singapore, India, the U.K., Mexico, Hungary, and France as well as U.S. parks centered on national laboratories and universities. While great diversity exists, successful parks tend to exhibit similar features such as committed champions, professional management, funding of infrastructure and companies, effective bridging institutions, and human capital. The report features a review of the academic literature on parks and extensive discussion of evaluation metrics. For more information please contact Adam Gertz (
agertz@nas.edu).
Understanding Research, Science, and Technology Parks:
Global Best Practice, Report Release Symposium
September 22, 2009
Partnering for Photovoltaic Manufacturing in the United States
July 29, 2009
Synthetic Biology Symposium
July 9-10, 2009
Growing Innovation Clusters for American Prosperity
June 3, 2009
The Future of PV Manufacturing in the United States
April 23, 2009
Financing Solar in Hard Times: A Policy Review
February 20, 2009
From Concept to Application: Managing the Transfer of Academic Research Results
November 20-21, 2008
U.S. and Polish Innovation Systems: Opportunities and Challanges
October 8-9, 2008
Making Big Solar Work: Achievements Challenges & Opportunities
July 29, 2008
Intangible Assets: Measuring and Enhancing Their Contribution to
Corporate Value and Economic Growth
June 23, 2008
Critical National Needs in New Technologies:
Opportunities for the Technology Innovation Program
April 24, 2008
Understanding Research Science and Technology Parks: Global Best Practice
March 13, 2008
The Dragon and The Elephant:
Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in China and India
September 24-25, 2007
