ENERGY POLICY AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION

Decisions by the next president will shape how the electricity sector responds to changes that carry with them wide-ranging economic and environmental consequences. Yet, energy policy has barely registered as an issue this election cycle. To prepare policymakers for what promises to be a dynamic period in electricity law and policy, a new report from the University of North Carolina Center for Climate, Energy, Environment, and Economics; the Harvard Environmental Policy Initiative; and Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions outlines energy issues that will be faced by the next administration and the decisions they will need to make.

CARBON TAX: INCREASING EMISSIONS CERTAINTY

There's growing interest in the use of a federal carbon tax as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but some uncertainty exists about how the economy would respond to such a tax, in particular, just how much emissions would be affected. A new policy brief by Nicholas Institute researchers examines options for increasing emissions certainty under a carbon tax. It also discusses challenges and opportunities associated with each. Read the Q&A with authors.

GROUNDWATER TRADING PROGRAM IN NEVADA

In Nevada's Diamond Valley, unsustainable groundwater pumping has decreased the aquifer's water level, raising irrigators' pumping costs and threatening the viability of wells and springs. A report co-authored by Nicholas Institute researchers assesses the benefits, costs, and distributional impacts of alternative water use curtailment scenarios for the Diamond Valley and how these outcomes would be affected by a groundwater trading approach to water management.

A Framework to Quantify the Strength of Ecological Links Between an Anthropogenic Stressor and Final Ecosystem Services November 17, Online Webinar	Building Consistency into Ecosystem Services Assessments and Decision Making December 6, Jacksonville, Florida
What's Next for Ecosystem Services in Decision Making: Priorities and Pathways December 7, Jacksonville, Florida	2017 Winter Forum: Power to the People: Tackling Energy Inequality Through Clean Energy Solutions January 8-10, 2017, Durham, North Carolina

Webinar: Energy Policy and the Next President

To prepare policymakers for what promises to be a dynamic period in electricity law and policy, authors of a new report provide an overview of six key areas of federal policy, and for each area, identify the decision points--in time or circumstances--that will force the next administration to make choices that shape the future of the grid. Watch the webinar to hear more about the next president's options and the authorities that he or she could deploy.

Utility Dive, 6 Ways the Presidential Election will Influence the Electric Utility Sector	The Hill, Ken Bone was Right: Energy Must be a Priority for Next President
Argus Media, Major Decisions ahead for FERC: Report	The New York Times, Canada's Trudeau Steps Up on Climate Change