NRDC Document Bank: Oil & Energy
The working materials in the NRDC Document Bank are listed in reverse chronological order. For additional policy materials including reports and issue papers, see the Issues section of the main NRDC site.
Letter Urging the Approval of the Cape Wind Project
Letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar urging him to complete the permitting process for Cape Wind in time for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Testimony of Kate Sinding on Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale
Testimony of Kate Sinding, Deputy Director of the Urban East Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, before the Department of Environmental Conservation on November 10, 2009. This testimony addresses the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) governing natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale and similar formations.
California's Proposed Energy Efficiency Standards for Televisions
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is in the process of finalizing minimum efficiency standards for new televisions sold in California. The standards will reduce annual energy use of new TVs by 30 to 50 per cent. Once the standard is in full effect, California will save almost $1 billion/yr in the form of lower electric bills and prevent the need to build a large 500 MW power plant.
Assessing the Impact of Ecological Considerations on Forest Biomass Projections for the Southeastern U.S.
This report, produced by the Conservation Biology Institute, evaluates the impact that administrative and ecological constraints might have on the amount of forest biomass that could be extracted for energy use in the Southeastern U.S.
Critique of reports on the potential economic impacts of environmental protections for oil and gas production
Three recent reports describe the alleged potential economic consequences of proposed environmental protections for oil and gas production. In an August, 2009 critique, ECONorthwest reviewed the reports to assess their reliability and accuracy and found significant errors.
Energy Future: A Green Energy Alternative for Michigan
This report lays out in detail how Michigan can meet its energy needs through a reliance on clean energy. A portfolio of 21st Century Energy Choices is less expensive, cleaner, faster, more economically robust and creates more jobs in Michigan than a 20th Century plan based on new, large fossil-fired power plants.
- ene_09081101b.pdf Report
- ene_09081101c.pdf Appendix
Declaration of U.S. and Canadian Environmental Leaders on Climate, Energy and Conservation Cooperation
A declaration detailing the new focused collaboration between leaders from the major U.S. and Canadian environmental and conservation organizations on common climate, energy and natural areas conservation issues.
Comments on the Proposed Adoption of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard by the California Air Resources Board
Comments from Simon Mui, Clean Vehicles and Fuels Scientist, and Roland Hwang, Transportation Program Director, on the the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Staff’s proposal to establish a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
A Letter to EPA Administrator Jackson Urging EPA to Account for Indirect Emissions From Land Use Changes
A letter to EPA Administrator Jackson, urging EPA to account for indirect emissions from land use changes in its analysis of biofuels’ lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for the proposed rule on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-2), as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Increasing Compliance with CARB's Parking Cash-Out Program
Letter from NRDC and the Environmental Defense Fund to State Senator Alan Lowenthal, supporting SB 728, his bill to permit localities to enforce California’s Parking Cash-Out Program.
The Impacts of Tar Sands Oil Development on Climate Change
This letter was submitted by NRDC and 18 other environmental and public interest groups on March 2, 2009 to Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson and energy secretary Steven Chu.
Letter to President-Elect Obama on Tar Sands and Global Warming Policy
Letter to President-Elect Obama about the risks of exempting tar sands oil production greenhouse gas emissions from North American discussion on global warming regulation.
Memo to the Obama Energy Transition Team on Tar Sands Oil Development and US Energy Policy
Memo to the Obama energy transition team on the risks of tar sands oil development with recommendations for the Obama Administration on U.S. energy and fuel policy.
Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative
To put American’s back to work, lower their energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions, we encourage President-elect Obama and Congress to launch the Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative described below. The Initiative has a national goal of retrofitting 2 million buildings over the next two years to substantially reduce their energy use. America’s building sector is in crisis. Now is the ideal time to jump-start a green jobs market, using the skilled and underemployed construction sector work force that is ready and waiting, and to stimulate a large secondary market in product and equipment sales. The Initiative will build the policy framework needed to achieve these goals.
Expert Documents on Duke Energy's Cliffside Plant Project
Fresh off of a court order forcing Duke Energy to live up to its Clean Air Act responsibilities to limit air pollution from the 800-megawatt addition to its Cliffside coal-fired power plant, the company is again attempting to dodge tighter pollution controls. The following are expert documents that have been submitted in opposition to Duke’s permit application
- ene_08121601a.pdf Letter to DAQ
- ene_08121601b.pdf Expert Review of Duke Application
- ene_08121601c.pdf Analysis of Marshall Facility
NRDC Analysis on Auto Bailout and California Standards
NRDC assesses the business proposals GM and Ford submitted to Congress on December 2, 2008. The report contains original data on fuel economy and efficiency improvements, showing that the automakers can comply with the most progressive California Greenhouse Gas Standards if the were extended to apply nationwide.
Results of Survey on Energy Issues
In October, the Natural Resources Defense Council asked Belden Russonello & Stewart to conduct research into public attitudes on energy issues. They conducted a telephone survey of 800 adults to assess attitudes on energy issues during the height of gas prices. These findings show that a majority of Americans - even during a time of record gas prices – said we should invest more in clean energy alternatives, not oil and drilling.
- ene_08120301a.pdf Survey of Attitudes on Energy Issues
- ene_08120301b.pdf Results of Survey on Energy Issues
Order on Motion for Summary Judgment on Southern Alliance for Clean Energy et al v. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
A federal court ruling will force Duke Energy to control hazardous air pollution from the 800-megawatt addition to its Cliffside coal-fired power plant. The judge sided with NRDC challenging lax air permits awarded to the plant that did not adequately control toxic air pollution.
- ene_08120201a.pdf Judgment
- ene_08120201b.pdf Memorandum and Order
Comments on the California Air Resources Board Draft Proposal for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Regulation (LCFS)
NRDC strongly supports many aspects of the draft proposal, particularly, the establishment of separate standards for gasoline and diesel fuels; the intention to establish separate emission factors for fuels derived from non-conventional crude oil sources, especially tar sands; and the inclusion of the indirect land use change (ILUC) GHG emissions in the alternative fuel carbon intensity emission factors for biofuels, to name a few.
However, we believe the current proposal falls short in a number of ways, and we therefore have recommendations such as providing minimum lands safeguards for biofuel protections that are consistent with analogous federal protections to ensure there is not an unintentional inventive to make biofuels using materials from ecologically sensitive areas that could actually increase GHG emissions.
Recommended Climate and Energy Priorities for the Obama Administration
NRDC worked with more than 30 other environmental groups to create these goals for the Obama transition team.
Extreme Efficiency: How Far Can We Go If We Really Need To?
This paper looks at factors that expand the efficiency potential in the context of the need to meet aggressive climate change emissions reduction goals, and the desire to do so in a way that minimizes costs and enhances economic development. It discusses the potential for continuous improvement in efficiency technology and design approach and how this can produce innovations that have economic benefits beyond the value of energy savings.
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