News & Analysis

Is the "Common Wisdom" Wrong?: Report to Show That U.S. Can Achieve Renewable Energy Future ... And Save Money for Consumers

Groundbreaking Synapse Energy Economics Study for Civil Society Institute to Detail Savings, Jobs, Environmental & Health Benefits of Ending "Business As Usual" Reliance on Dirty Energy

U.S. policymakers and others who assume that a safe, renewable energy future – including an end to reliance on coal-fired electric power and a sharply reduced reliance on nuclear power and natural gas – is impractical and too expensive for the U.S. to achieve are wrong, according to a major new report from Synapse Energy Economics to be released by the Civil Society Institute (CSI) during a live, phone-based news conference at 1:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday (November 16, 2011),

In outlining an actionable path for a future with no coal-fired power plants and sharply reduced use of nuclear power and natural gas, the Synapse report for CSI achieves tens of billions of dollars in net savings through aggressive use of existing technology for energy efficiency and safe, renewable power, including wind and solar.  The Synapse report also details other major benefits, including:  the avoidance of tens of thousands of premature deaths due to pollution; the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs; sharp cuts in carbon pollution; and significant cuts in water consumption for power production.

News event speakers will be:

• Pam Solo, president, Civil Society Institute;
• Bruce Biewald, president, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.;  and
• Geoff Keith, associate, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.

The new Synapse report findings for CSI are significant in view of the fact that a strong majority of Americans want the U.S. to make the investments needed to be a clean energy leader on a global basis.   More than three in four Americans (77 percent) – including 65 percent of Republicans, 75  percent of Independents, 88 percent of Democrats, and 56 percent of Tea Party members – agree with the following statement:  "The U.S. needs to be a clean energy technology leader and it should invest in the research and domestic manufacturing of wind, solar and energy efficiency technologies."   (For details on this November 3, 2011 CSI national opinion survey, see http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/media/110311release.cfm.)

TO PARTICIPATE:  You can participate in a related live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 1:30 p.m. EST on November 16, 2011 by dialing 1 (877) 270-2148. Ask for the "safe, renewable U.S. energy future" news event.  

CAN'T PARTICIPATE?:  A streaming audio replay of a related news event will be available on the Web at http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/synapsereport as of 5 p.m. EST on November 16, 2011.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ailis Aaron Wolf, for the Civil Society Institute, (703) 276-3265 or aawolf@hastingsgroup.com.

Based in Newton, MA., the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (http://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org) is a think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business that can help to improve society. Since 2003, CSI has conducted more than 25 major national and state-level surveys and reports on energy and auto issues, including vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, consumer demand for hybrids/other highly fuel efficient vehicles, global warming and renewable energy. In addition to being a co-convener of TheCLEAN.org (http://www.TheClean.org), the Civil Society Institute also is the parent organization of 40MPG.org (http://www.40MPG.org) and the Hybrid Owners of America (http://www.HybridOwnersofAmerica.org).

Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. (http://www.synapse-energy.com) provides research, testimony, reports and regulatory support on energy, economic, and environmental topics. Synapse has a professional staff of 22 with more than 300 years of combined experience in the electricity and natural gas industries. Synapse assesses the implications of electricity and natural gas industry planning, regulation and restructuring. Our work covers various interrelated issues such as transmission planning, service reliability, siting, fuel diversity, resource planning, financial and economic risks, renewable energy potential and renewable portfolio standards, energy efficiency, electricity modeling, portfolio management, customer service and more. Synapse works for a wide range of clients throughout the United States, including attorneys general, offices of consumer advocates, public utility commissions, a variety of environmental groups, foundations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and others.

SOURCE Civil Society Institute; Synapse Energy Economics