Dvarim Sheroim Misham Lo Roim Mikan, aka - “Things we see from there one cannot see from here.”

Dr. Sened is a Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis, and former chair of the Political Science Department at Washington University. His main interests are comparative theory of institutions, game theory and mathematical modeling. Dr. Sened teaches Undergraduate and Graduate level courses in the Political Science Department.

In a series of three posts, starting with this one, we will explore, this week the very different approach and attitudes towards clean energy in Europe as compared to shoe we are more commonly exposed to here in the U.S.  Besides some observations regarding these difference we will also discuss the origin of these difference and the policy consequences they entail.

How Much Gas Does It Take To Fly You?

Max Wenneker is a miles, points, and travel blogger from Boston. As a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, he currently works for a consumer finance firm in Washington D.C. and dreams one day of running an airline.

In this piece, Max Wenneker looks at both the environmental and economic cost of flying. Commercial airliners use massive amounts of fuel that is not only expensive, but also results in significant emissions of greenhouse gases, contributing measurable harm to the environment.  

More Good News - Legislation on Energy Efficiency

Alex Bluestone is a junior undergraduate studying political science and environmental policy at Washington University in St. Louis. Before attending Washington University, Alex was a student of public policy at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, where he first became interested in environmental policy. Alex also has a diverse work background in addition to his academic foundation, which includes internships at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and, somewhat surprisingly, at the nation’s second largest coal company. In addition, Alex was a delegate to the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar. 

Conservative Attacks on State Renewable Energy Policies

Amy Plovnick graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2012
with majors in Political Science and Environmental Studies. While at Wash
U, spurred by a concern about climate change, she became interested in
issues related to energy and environmental policy, and conducted her senior thesis in political science on the effect of state-level renewable energy policies on wind power development. Amy recently completed a 6-month fellowship at the Sierra Club, and now continues to work on energy policy at the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid in Washington, D.C.

Over half of U.S. states have passed a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires a state to get a certain percentage of its electricity from renewable sources by a given date. These policies have helped to spur the growth of renewable energy throughout the country. However, there have recently been several attempts by state legislatures to scale back or eliminate RPS policies. This post refutes several common criticisms of RPS policies, and looks at why state legislatures are attempting to eliminate what have been largely successful renewable energy policies.

Clean Energy and Politics

Dr. Sened is a Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis, and former chair of the Political Science Department at Washington University. His main interests are comparative theory of institutions, game theory and mathematical modeling. Dr. Sened teaches Undergraduate and Graduate level courses in the Political Science Department.

Diamond Green Diesel Refinery

Eric Nelson is the Chief Investment Strategist at ABE Capital Management.
Mr. Nelson has years of experience performing investment research for
several financial firms including Oppenheimer Capital and The MDE Group. He graduated with honors from Columbia Business School where he earned an MBA and was in the prestigious and highly-competitive Value Investing Program. Mr. Nelson is a graduate of Villanova University School of Law where he focused his studies on matters of international law and is a licensed attorney in the States of New York and New Jersey. At Washington University in St. Louis, Mr. Nelson conducted research on speculative financial markets and behavioral finance while earning a BSBA at the John M. Olin School of Business. He is intrigued by matters of international economic development and enjoys traveling in pursuit of this interest.  He lives in New Jersey with his wonderful wife and precious daughter.

ASEAN’s Role in Sustainable Energy for All

Melissa Low is an Energy Analyst for the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore, she joined the Energy Studies Institute in September 2010. Before joining ESI, Melissa was part of a 12-member youth delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 15 talks in Copenhagen in December of 2009 and worked for local Not-for-Profit Organization ECO Singapore to raise awareness about climate change and environmental stewardship in Singapore. Outside of ESI, Melissa currently serves as Singapore Coordinator to a Not-for-Profit organization called Global Sunrise, working to bring renewable energy to communities and schools in Sierra Leone.

Melissa holds a B. Soc. Science (2^nd Upper Honors) in Geography and minor in Urban Studies from the National University of Singapore. She is currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Environmental Management with the School of Design and Environment at the National University of Singapore.

Clean Energy and Dirty Politics

Murray Weidenbaum is a prominent figure in business and government. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from 1969 to 1971, and in 1981-82 as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. His research and teaching interests are government regulation of business, public finance, and economic policy. Weidenbaum is an honorary fellow of the Society of Technical Communication and a fellow of the National Association of Business Economics. His book, Small Wars, Big Defense, was selected by the Association of American Publishers as the outstanding economics book of 1992. His Bamboo Network was a finalist for global business book of the year in 1996. His book, One-Armed Economist: The Intersection of Business and Government was published in 2004. In 2008, The Competition of Ideas: The World of Washington Think Tanks, was published by Transaction Press.  He founded the Center for the Study of American Business at Washington University and directed the Center for many years. The center was renamed in his honor in 2001 to the Murray Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy. Professor Weidenbaum teaches a popular course on business and government.