Energy Security Policy Initiative

WHAT WE DO

The Institute for Security Studies' Energy Security Policy Initiative is an independent, non-partisan enterprise that conducts and disseminates rigorous and independent research and analysis assisting U.S. and international policymakers in the development of long-term energy security policies within the context of global trends and challenges. To assist U.S. and international policymakers navigate the increasing complexity of the global energy landscape, the Energy Security Policy Initiatve seeks to:

• Conduct independent research, and develop analytical frameworks and cost effective solutions addressing the potential and actual threats to energy security, stability of global energy markets, and continued access to energy supplies.

• Advise on state, regional, national and international political, economic and technological developments related to building a long term energy security strategy based on diverse energy sources.

• Create collaborative partnerships and facilitate dialogue among U.S. Federal and state agencies, research institutions, industry groups, the international community and the general public in order to bridge the gap between the technological/scientific and geo-political/social aspects of energy security

• Actively engage policymakers and institutions around the world to address energy security challenges and to promote international cooperation and multilateral solutions

• Host public events to disseminate research and to encourage greater citizen involvement and understanding of the complex issue of energy security.

The Energy Security Policy Initiative features a diverse group of experts within the UNLV community as well recognized domestic and international experts to conduct research using quantitative and qualitative analyses, case studies and statistical models. The Initiative will disseminate the information through briefings, publications, conferences, workshops and roundtables.

CONTEXT

Since the end of World War II, the predominant threats to U.S. national security were foreign military challenges and from non-military alliances opposed to U.S. interests. By virtue of global trade with largely stable political regimes in Europe and the inherent advantages conferred in having the world’s largest economy, the economic aspect of U.S. national security seldom dominated the list of policy concerns during this period. However, recent trends and events are challenging this paradigm. The economic as well as political implications of America’s continuing and growing dependence on foreign energy sources are challenging traditional national security considerations.

The financial consequences of this dependence on foreign energy sources are profound. America’s annual bill for foreign energy imports amounts to US$700 billion; U.S. energy purchases from OPEC over the past several decades have totaled several trillion U.S. dollars, representing the largest transfer of wealth from one region to another in history. While generally stable energy prices over the past few decades have insulated the U.S. economy and consumers from significant financial disruption, the recent unprecedented spike in oil prices has imposed wide-spread financial costs on virtually all parts of the U.S. economy.

The geopolitics of energy – linked both to supply and demand and to the dynamic nature of our relationships with other energy-producing countries – are increasingly shaping the U.S. national security agenda as policymakers face increased pressure to develop a comprehensive energy strategy whose long-term goals would be the reduction of American dependence on foreign energy sources and the security of energy resources sufficient to maintain the quality of life of our citizens.

The task of developing a comprehensive national energy security policy is not without significant challenges. While there is widespread agreement across the country that America must reduce its dependence on foreign oil, there are competing – even conflicting – ideas about the strategies the U.S. should pursue to develop and guarantee stable long-term supplies of energy. For example, while some U.S. communities (and their economies) depend on coal-fueled power, other stakeholders advocate near-total dependence upon extracting energy from renewable sources (e.g. hydro, solar, geothermal, wind). Ironically, growing concerns over the use of fossil-based energy resources in the U.S. come at a time when countries in Europe and other parts of the world are considering an expansion of coal-fired power plants.

Over the last few years, particularly as oil prices have climbed, there has been growing discussion of relying on renewable energy sources as solutions to the supply problem. While advocates champion these alternate sources of energy, recent research suggests that renewable energy technologies have their own set of challenges and constraints. For example, global grain markets have been disrupted over the last year by the rising demand for corn (used to make ethanol) which has caused farmers to move away from planting rice and other traditional crops in favor of planting corn. And despite financier T. Boone Pickens’ advocacy of wind-generated power, full scale operability remains limited because the infrastructure does not yet exist to support it, and the political will required to build the necessary infrastructure is absent. In addition, considerable disagreement remains about whether energy security policies should focus on demand side management (i.e. conservation), on the supply side of the equation, or on both.

MISSION

ISS' Energy Security Policy Initiative is an independent, non-partisan entity that conducts and disseminates rigorous and independent research and analysis assisting U.S. and international policymakers to develop long-term energy security policies within the context of global trends and challenges. To assist U.S. and international policymakers navigate the increasing complexity of the global energy landscape, the Initiative seeks to:

• Conduct independent research, and develop analytical frameworks and cost effective solutions addressing the potential and actual threats to energy security, stability of global energy markets, and continued access to energy supplies.

• Advise on state, regional, national and international political, economic and technological developments related to building a long term energy security strategy based on diverse energy sources.

• Create collaborative partnerships and facilitate dialogue among U.S. Federal and state agencies, research institutions, industry groups, the international community and the general public in order to bridge the gap between the technological/scientific and geo-political/social aspects of energy security.

• Actively engage policymakers and institutions around the world to address energy security challenges and to promote international cooperation and multilateral solutions.

• Host public events to disseminate research and to encourage greater citizen involvement and understanding of the complex issue of energy security.

The Initiative brings together a diverse group of experts within the UNLV community as well recognized domestic and international experts to conduct research using quantitative and qualitative analyses, case studies and statistical models. The Initiative will disseminate the information through briefings, publications, conferences, workshops and roundtables.