EPA’s Recent Announcement – A Clue to Where the US Is Going in Renewables?

My colleague Steve Estes writes about the EPA’s recent announcement:

This is why the market is starting to get active again…. The EPA will proceed regardless, hopefully causing all of the folks against this to accept the alternative (which is better) of the politicians being allowed to pass some comprehensive legislation…

The different industries affected will each have their own different “niches” to follow – my projections – I recently had a discussion with a body shop owner/operator – an example would be that 2 over years ago (Bush era ) the EPA came in and started requiring reporting, new controls, completely and quietly effecting the way the future will be for body shops .. ask yourself – as each industry is individually targeted, doesn’t that create missed opportunities for a true comprehensive bill that will support our economy??

Farming – will be carbon sequestration, carbon offsets, subsidized energy crops

Transportation – will have higher fuel standards, alternative fuels , etc..

Construction – 　LEEDS will become more prevalent, cement is already being targeted, 　equipment will fall under same (already happenning in some areas) guidelines as transportation

Heavy manufacturing – steel, automotive, chemical, will be highly regulated with some kind of “trading” system to help offset the upfront investment required for the transformation.

I find this to be a very interesting analysis. I’m always looking for the lynchpin that points to specifically why the US lags the rest of the world in terms of the development of renewables.