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Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free:
A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy
By Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D |
The Plan
A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free is solutions-based. We are not just saying no to the bad ideas (climate change-causing fossil fuels, proliferation-prone radioactive nuclear energy, turning food into fuel) we are saying YES to the good ideas—efficiency and renewable energy, deployed reliably and economically. The Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free Roadmap for US energy policy shows in detail, step-by-step, how to get from here to the world we want to live in.
The Reference Scenario
The reference scenario offers one possible carbon-free nuclear-free U.S. energy system that we can create by 2050 at a reasonable cost. This includes the electricity grid, residential and commercial energy use, and transportation and industry. A preferred renewable energy scenario is also outlined; it has fewer negative impacts but requires greater advances in technology. The preferred scenario frames the detailed Roadmap Timeline below.
The Timeline
The timeline details what steps we need to take when, from now to 2030, in order to arrive at a carbon-free nuclear-free U.S. energy system by 2050.
It is technologically and economically feasible to phase out CO2 emissions and nuclear power at the same time, by at least 2050. With significant effort and technological advances, it can be done by 2040. The plan includes redundancy in case any elements in the preferred scenario cannot be fully realized.