Public Investments in Energy Technology - Hardcover

Gallaher, Michael P.; Link, Albert N.; O’Connor, Alan C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0857931571 ISBN 13: 9780857931573

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

Escalating energy demand may be the most important issue facing the United States and the world today. There is little disagreement that research and development (R&D) is needed to develop new energy technologies for the future; however, there is less agreement over the specific research agenda to be pursued and how that agenda is funded. This book addresses the social importance of new energy technologies, illustrates policy-relevant applications of evaluation techniques and proposes new perspectives for a US energy investment strategy.

Through detailed examples related to solar, geothermal, and vehicle technologies, the authors outline the need for robust evaluation methods to document social returns to taxpayers' R&D investments. They argue that such evaluations are necessary for the public sector to make rational decisions about the allocation of its scares resources. The evaluation methods considered involve developing alternative technology and market pathways from which the benefits of government research can be measured.

Researchers and graduate students, policy makers involved in energy technology, and energy R&D program managers will all find much of value in this important and timely book.

About this title

About the Author

Michael P. Gallaher, Director, Environmental, Technology, and Energy Economics Program, RTI International, US, Albert N. Link, Professor of Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, US and Alan O'Connor, Senior Economist, Environmental, Technology, and Energy Economics Program, RTI International, US

About this edition

• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0857931571
• ISBN 13: 9780857931573
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 200