Background

Reliable and reasonably priced sources of energy are essential for the economic and national security of the United States of America. Recent spikes in energy prices brought the critical role of energy to the public eye and underscored the need for a comprehensive energy strategy to ensure a sustainable supply of energy for the people of the United States.

Members of ASME research, develop, design, and operate technology involving all aspects of energy resource extraction and conversion. As innovators and designers of the systems and equipment used in the processes of power generation and conversion, mechanical engineers are well qualified to provide expertise on the important issues facing the nation with regard to energy security.

The Council on Engineering's Energy Committee is responsible for coordinating crosscutting, energy-related activities of ASME using the expertise and resources of its Technical Divisions.

Energy Policy Goals Proclamation

In December 2008, ASME, in coordination with IEEE-USA undertook the drafting of an Energy Policy Goals Proclamation to identify mutual priorities related to energy. 

This included 6 principles:

1.  An adequate, sustainable, environmentally acceptable and economically viable supply of energy is essential for the economic growth and national security of the United States.

2.  The United States must further develop and maintain a balanced portfolio of energy sources, including coal, petroleum, nuclear, natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric power.

3.  Sustained and long-term federal investment is required for accelerating the implementation of best available energy technologies and development of new technologies for transportation, heating, cooling and electric power generation.

4.  The nation must strongly encourage energy conservation and increase the efficient use of all energy resources.

5.  The nation’s dependence on petroleum must be reduced by increasing supplies of non-petroleum-derived fuels, increasing automotive fuel efficiencies, and maximizing electrification of the transportation sector.

6.  Any comprehensive national energy strategy should incorporate carbon mitigation and adaptation.

Finally, both organizations identified key policy goals:

• Maximize the use of electric power generated by sustainable, economic and environmentally-acceptable technologies.

• Modernize the Nation’s electric transmission grid

• Maximize electrification of the transportation sector

• Establish visible and substantial national energy efficiency and conservation goals

• Employ indigenous raw materials to manufacture liquid and gaseous fuels

• Build and deploy generating capacity to supply reliable electric service

• Provide a long-term commitment to energy research, development and demonstration

In the June 2007 General Position Paper, the Society set forth its guiding principles with regard to energy policy:

1. For the economic health and security of the nation, the United States must be assured of an adequate, sustainable supply of energy.

2. The nation must maintain a balanced energy supply mix, which includes coal, petroleum, nuclear, natural gas, biomass, solar, wind and hydroelectric power, and accelerate the development of advanced energy technologies for transportation, heating and cooling, and utility-scale power production.

3. To ensure the recommendation, development, and use of the most efficient energy production technologies, the national energy policy must adopt standardized, technically rigorous methods for calculating net energy contributions, life cycle costs, production processes, and environmental impacts of all energy sources.

4. The nation must encourage energy conservation and increase the efficient use of all energy resources.

5. The national energy policy must decrease the nation’s dependence on petroleum by increasing supplies of non-petroleum-derived fuels, increasing automotive fuel efficiencies, and encouraging development and implementation of new transportation technologies.

6. The US must establish a leadership position in international energy policy that addresses energy security, traditional environmental issues, and global climate change.    

7. The federal and state governments should encourage and expedite socially and technically responsible licensing and permitting processes that result in the development, installation and continued operation of energy technologies from a broad portfolio of energy resources.

8. The U.S. policy should reflect the global importance of energy and the global reach of energy markets in influencing national policies.

Current Status:

Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140)

In December 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 140-110) into law.The most groundbreaking provision within this legislation was the mandate that automobiles improve their fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2018, the first raise in fuel economy standards in 32 years.   

The other major provision was the dramatic rise in the renewable fuel standard to 36 billion gallons by 2022, 15 billion of which would have to come from corn based ethanol and with the rest from other forms of biofuels. This legislation also mandated the gradual phase-out of incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012 and a variety of other efficiency improvements to energy intensive appliances, such as industrial refrigerators, freezers, and other equipment. 

FY 2009 Continuing Resolution (P.L. 110-329)

With that sentiment in mind, when President Bush signed a $630 billion Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through March 6th 2009, the bill drew attention almost as much for what was included as for what was not included, mainly a moratorium on offshore drilling.  Additionally, the bill contained three appropriations, the FY09 Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security spending bills. 

It also contained a $25 billion loan for Detroit automakers through the Department of Energy to develop more fuel efficient vehicles that we have recently been told was insufficient for the automotive manufacturers to stay afloat.  

The Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246)

The 2008 Farm Bill did manage to include some provisions related to additional development of biofuels in the form of grants, subsidies and other payments for their accelerated development and deployment.  More specifically, the tariff on ethanol was reduced from $.51 to $.48 and the subsidy was reduced from $.54 to $.51.
 
Federal Bailout Bill (P.L. 110-343) 

This enormous piece of legislation, priced at over $850 billion, also included almost $17 billion in expiring renewable energy tax breaks. 

ASME Action

In keeping with its commitment to provide sound, non-partisan technical advice to policy makers, ASME has been very involved in the energy issue over the past couple of years.  In addition to providing testimony (prepared by the Council on Engineering's Energy Committee) to House and Senate appropriations subcommittees, ASME issued a General Position Paper on Energy Policy in June 2007, entitled “Securing America’s Energy Future” which contains assessments for policy makers in such areas as coal, nuclear power, renewable energy use, and increasing efficiency and conservation.  

Earlier this year, ASME President Thomas M. Barlow was able to meet with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) in order to discuss the appropriation of the bipartisan America COMPETES Act as well as energy related measures that were passed into law. 

“Coals-to-Liquids: Bridge to the Future of Fuel” Briefing was convened in 2168 Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at noon.  This briefing was moderated by Dr. Richard Bajura, the Director of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University.  Speakers for briefing included Dr. C. Lowell Miller, Director of the Office of Sequestration, Hydrogen and Clean Coal Fuels for the Office of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy.  Dr. Qingyun Sun, Associate Director for the U.S.-China Energy Center and associate professor at West Virginia University.  A video of the briefing is available here.    

“ITER Fusion Energy Experiment: Bringing A Sun to Earth” which was cosponsored by IEEE-USA and convened in conjunction with the Congressional Research and Development Caucus. The briefing highlighted the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project and its potential to provide the world with an abundant supply of environmentally benign energy with zero greenhouse gas emissions.  ASME President Thomas M. Barlow provided opening remarks and introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Ned Sauthoff, U.S. ITER Project Manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, who spoke about the experiment and its related challenges.  The briefing was videotaped and is available here.

Staff Contact

For further information, contact Robert Rains, Government Relations Public Policy Specialist, at (202) 785-7483.