Useful Metrics for Evaluating Energy Legislation in U.S. Congress

Recent developments in energy prices as well as in attitudes towards climate change have sparked new types of energy legislation.

Specifically, the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act included the Renewable Fuel Standard, a mandate for increased production of ethanol and other advanced renewable fuels over the next 15 years.

Congress must be careful in its pursuit to speed up progress. New studies have called into question the environmental and economic benefits of renewable fuels and Congress has considered removing the mandate in subsequent legislation. A steady and consistent energy policy is needed to spur investment and development and this consistency is not well served by multiple large course corrections in response to unforeseen consequences. In order to create a consistent energy policy, congress needs to be presented with comprehendible and consistent information. Through an assessment of metrics used during the writing and creation of the renewable fuel standard, this paper advocates and lays groundwork for the creation of a standard system of metrics for evaluating energy legislation. This system should not only serve to well inform Congress of the multiple environmental, economic, and social impacts of a proposed piece of legislation, but also be able to resolve and explain conflicts between metrics presented by various government agencies and interest groups. Specifically, this study:

· Presents metrics used during congressional proceedings regarding the creation and passing of the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard,

· Presents criticisms of these metrics,

· Presents conflicts between the metrics,

· Attempts to resolve conflicts,

· Recommends methods for presenting a standard system of metrics,

· Recommends a standard system of metrics for evaluating renewable fuels.

This paper is the result of an internship with AIChE through the Washington Internships for Students in Engineering (WISE) Program.