Government Incentives in Energy & Sustainability (452-0-20)
Instructors
Mark S Lillie
Meeting Info
Frances Searle Building 2370: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
Energy occupies a crucial role in operating and maintaining a modern industrial and services economy. Concerns about energy supply and its cost have led policy makers to provide financial incentives that drive research and new investment to diversify and expand technological innovation in the energy sector. Concerns about the environmental impacts of fossil energy use have further led to a wide variety of incentives specifically targeting the commercialization of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
This course will review a broad sampling of incentive tools offered by the federal and state governments to encourage private actors to develop infrastructure, produce commodities, advance technologies and tolerate risk inherent in commercial energy and sustainability enterprises, as well as incentivizing individuals to make decisions about personal property and behavior.
Registration Requirements
Open to graduate student enrollment only by permission of the department, and subject to roster availability; please contact mses@northwestern.edu if you are interested
Learning Objectives
1/ Understand various federal and state agency programs offering energy incentives and other forms of financial support
2/ Compare and contrast a complex patchwork of incentives, many with long-standing historical roots, in driving sometimes-competing policy and economic goals
3/ Examine the historical efficacy of various incentive programs and their relevance for meeting future carbon and climate goals
4/ Consider how such programs may evolve in the future to adapt to changing economic and policy conditions