The Geopolitical Impacts of the U.S. Tight Oil Boom: Implications for OPEC and the U.S. Strategic Posture

Jun. 12, 2013
The Hyatt Regency (Regency C/D)

Recent reports by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and others have estimated that the United States, given its newfound tight oil wealth, will surpass Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer by the end of this decade. Growth in North American production could shift the balance of energy power from the Middle East to the West, with implications for the power of OPEC, and the competitiveness of historic suppliers. The propagation of tight oil technology could bring down the price of oil and offer opportunities for changing energy security relationships in Europe, Africa and Latin America. Optimism about North American self-sufficiency has also raised questions about the need or willingness of the United States to sustain its security engagement in the Middle East and Africa.

Energy Innovation Congressional Reception

Feb. 28, 2013
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (HVC 201 A & B)

In conjunction with the annual three-day ARPA-E Summit, this reception brought together members of Congress and other government officials with ARPA-E key performers and other leading innovators to highlight some of America's most creative energy ideas. For more information on the Summit, click here.

America's Energy Resurgence: Sustaining Success, Confronting Challenges

Feb. 27, 2013
The National Press Club (Ballroom)

America’s economy—in fact our way of life—is highly dependent on secure, affordable, and reliable energy. Though the U.S. has increasingly abundant and diverse sources of domestic energy, many challenges remain: affordable energy is still a challenge for many households and businesses; the oil and gas boom comes with environmental challenges; an aging electric grid faces infrastructure and reliability hurdles; and public investments in energy R&D are insufficient to help keep an international edge. Meanwhile, the issues of climate change, global energy market volatility, policy uncertainty, and competition for energy resources by countries with growing economies remain.

2013 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

Feb. 25 - 27, 2013
Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center

The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) hosted the 4th annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit. The Summit brings together leaders from academia, business, and government to discuss cutting-edge energy issues and facilitate relationships to help move technologies into the marketplace.

Capitalizing on the Evolving Power Sector: Policies for a Modern and Reliable U.S. Electric Grid

Feb. 7, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

The U.S. electric power sector is undergoing a significant transition with implications for the cost, reliability, and environmental impact of the nation’s electricity supply. Most importantly, natural gas and renewable energy are projected to comprise an increasing share of the generation mix due to economic trends and state and federal policies.

Yet there are a number of challenges that, if unaddressed, have the potential to raise the costs of this transition and impede improvements to reliability or the affordable delivery of cleaner energy resources. At the same time, this ongoing shift provides an opportunity to evaluate policies and institutional structures that can encourage electric system reliability and the cost-effective deployment of new technologies and infrastructure.

BPC President Jason Grumet speaks at National Renewable Energy Policy Forum

Feb. 6, 2013
Cannon House Office Building (Cannon Caucus Room)

Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) President Jason Grumet participated in a panel discussion on the bipartisan legacy of energy policy as part of the American Council On Renewable Energy's National Renewable Energy Policy Forum.

The Executive Branch and National Energy Policy: Time for Renewal

Nov. 27, 2012
The National Press Club (Holeman Lounge)

Remarkable developments are changing America’s energy landscape. Increases in domestic shale gas and oil production, growth in renewable energy, and steady efficiency improvements in all sectors of the economy have put the country on an energy and economic path that few predicted possible.

Building upon these achievements while addressing ever-present energy security threats as well as a range of environmental challenges, will require national leadership, vision, and careful policy choices.

Leadership starts with a re-invigorated approach to developing our national energy policy – an approach that can help overcome the problems that have hampered past efforts and put us on a more inclusive, balanced, resilient and enduring path. BPC’s Energy Project explored these challenges and discussed our recommendations for improving executive branch energy policy development, implementation, and accountability.

Ensuring a Safe and Secure Future for Nuclear Energy

Sep. 18, 2012
Center for Strategic and International Studies

CSIS hosted a discussion of the key challenges facing nuclear power in the United States and policy options to maintain U.S. global leadership in nuclear energy. During the past year, CSIS, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and Third Way have each undertaken bipartisan studies of nuclear energy policy. This event highlighted the recommendations of the Third Way and Idaho National Lab New Millennium Nuclear Energy Partnership, discussed the findings of the BPC Nuclear Initiative, and explored the ongoing work of the CSIS Commission on Nuclear Energy Policy.

Washington Post Live: Energy and the Election at the Democratic National Convention

Sep. 4, 2012
The Ritz Carlton Charlotte

How will the outcome of the 2012 election affect energy policy and the future of domestic energy security? Washington Post Live convened energy leaders from industry, advocacy, government, and academia at the Democratic National Convention for a breakfast discussion forum at the Ritz Carlton Charlotte on September 4 to discuss what's next for U.S. energy. An audience of policy stakeholders heard expert analysis and their approach to energy policy, its relationship to the economy, and the path to an energy-secure future.

Washington Post Live: Energy and the Election at the Republican National Convention

Aug. 27, 2012
University of Tampa Vaughn Center Crescent Club

How will the outcome of the 2012 election affect energy policy and the future of domestic energy security? Washington Post Live convened energy leaders from industry, advocacy, government, and academia at the Republican National Convention for a breakfast discussion forum at the University of Tampa to discuss what's next for U.S. energy. An audience of policy stakeholders heard expert analysis and their approach to energy policy, its relationship to the economy, and the path to an energy-secure future.

Understanding the New Energy Landscape: Technological Change and Global Market Integration

Jun. 27, 2012
Grand Hyatt (Constitution Ballroom)

Spotlight on the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2012

America’s energy landscape has undergone seismic shifts over the past few years. While the most striking change has occurred in U.S. supplies and production of oil & natural gas, almost every sector of the energy industry has experienced rapid changes. Shale gas has grown from 5 percent to 33 percent of total U.S gas production in just five years. Domestic oil production, which had declined steadily for decades, has begun rising again, growing from 4.95 million barrels per day in 2008 to 5.66 million barrels per day in 2011. Natural gas liquids production, which has ramped up recently due to both increased shale gas and tight oil production, is expected to be a game changer on the energy landscape. Electricity generation from natural gas has increased sharply recently and renewable generation more than doubled from 2000 through 2010, with installed wind capacity increasing by more than 16-fold.

Near-Term Progress on Nuclear Waste Management: Implementing the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission

Jun. 6, 2012
Hyatt Regency

Blog Recap: Senators Bingaman and Murkowski Keynote BPC Nuclear Event

In January 2012, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future issued a consensus report recommending a new comprehensive strategy to manage and dispose of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Breaking the current stalemate requires action by both the Administration and Congress.

BPC's Nuclear Initiative held a discussion of ongoing efforts to implement the Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations and achieve near-term progress on nuclear waste storage and disposal.

Energy Innovation at the Department of Defense: Assessing the Opportunities

Mar. 28, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center

Blog Recap: Defense and Energy Experts Examine Pentagon's Ability to Propel Innovation

If the U.S. is to achieve a timely transition to reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, we must make continued advances in a suite of energy technologies. Increasingly, the Department of Defense (DoD) is recognized as a powerful driver of advanced energy technologies. Although DoD has been one of the most potent innovators in history, DoD's security mission will always take priority. Therefore, a key challenge for policymakers is maximizing DoD's capacity to contribute to progress on energy-related technologies in ways that also advance its security mission. BPC hosted a discussion of the opportunities and challenges at DoD for accelerating advanced energy technologies. The conversation featured leading defense and innovation experts and highlighted findings from a new BPC-commissioned report, Energy Innovation at the Department of Defense: Assessing the Opportunities, by the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University and the Clean Air Task Force.

Preparing for Deployment of Small Modular Reactors

Mar. 16, 2012
Washington Marriott at Metro Center, Salon D

Blog Recap: 'An exciting frontier for nuclear technology'

Small modular reactors (SMRs) have received considerable attention in recent years from the policy and technology communities in the U.S. and internationally. BPC held an expert briefing on promising domestic and foreign SMR technologies, as well as a discussion of the business and technical case for SMR deployment and the possible role of government support for commercialization.

Energy Innovation in a Time of Fiscal Austerity and Policy Uncertainty

Feb. 7, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center

Energy innovation offers the best chance for solving the urgent and interrelated problems of worldwide insecurity over energy supplies, rapidly growing energy demand, and climate change. But if we are to achieve a timely transition to reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, the U.S. energy innovation system must be significantly improved. Creating an innovation system to produce sustained and timely advances across a range of energy technologies is especially challenging in this era of budget cuts and fiscal austerity. BPC held a discussion on how we can speed up the introduction of new technologies and business models and accelerate their deployment on a massive scale. The conversation explored Lester and Hart's new book, Unlocking Energy Innovation: How America Can Build Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy System, and highlighted ways to advance innovative technologies amidst challenging fiscal and political times.