Solutions for Impending Doom ​1

Solutions for Impending Doom

Alison MacLeod, Ashika Capirala, Megan Chen, Reagan Welsh, & Sabreena Leach
The University of Washington
Solutions for Impending Doom ​2

Abstract

This report proposes a probable transition plan to reduce the emissions of the U.S. by
80% by 2050. The plan focuses on solutions in the electricity, transportation, and industry
sectors as these equate to 78% of total emissions. Policy initiatives and regulations in domestic,
commercial and agriculture sectors make sizable cuts as well.
Energy demands in 2050 will be met with 99.5% renewables, reducing overall emissions
by 25%. Varying renewables like solar and wind will meet 55% of demand (30% and 25%
respectively). Constant renewables will meet the other 45% of demand (with Nuclear meeting
10%, Geothermal 5%, Biomass 10%, and Hydroelectric 20%). Biomass will be phased up while
energy storage technologies for varying renewables are developed. Excess biomass will then be
sold to other countries. Fossil fuels will be limited to 0.5% of energy demand, eradicating
another 5% of total emissions due to reduced mining needs. Another 5% of emissions will be
prevented through carbon capture and storage systems. Transitioning 80% of gasoline vehicles to
electric will eliminate 19% more of emissions, lighting efficiency and insulation standards
another 7%, bioplastics and reduced food waste 1.2%, and an algae diet for ruminant livestock
6%. A carefully implemented carbon tax would incentivize efficiency and reduce another 20% of
emissions.
Though cost and development still remains as a hurdle in transitioning completely to
renewable energy resources, it is decidedly the best option environmentally and economically
when considering costs due to natural disasters and displacement brought on by climate change.
Jobs created by a transition to renewables will more than cover those lost in the fossil fuel sector
with less public health issues and better wages.
Solutions for Impending Doom ​3

Introduction: Our Current Consumption

Fig. 1

(U.S. EIA, 2018)

Fig. 2

(EPA, 2018)
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In 2016, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions totaled over 6.5 billion metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent (CO​2​e ) (EPA, 2018). The U.S. must reduce its emissions by 80% by 2050 to
avoid a warming of over 2℃. To accomplish this, the average American’s daily emissions will
have to be brought down from 55 kg of CO​2​e a day to 9 kg of CO​2​e a day, considering a
population increase of 75 million by 2050 (see Fig. 3).
As transportation and electricity are the largest sources of carbon emissions in the U.S -
making up 56% of total emissions (see Fig. 2) - they are the first targets in the battle to reduce
emissions. Transitioning to renewable energy sources and advocating for electric-powered
vehicles will be essential to meeting the 80% reduction goal. That being said, the commercial,
residential, and industry sectors offer potential savings through stricter efficiency standards. In
agriculture direct emission savings are small, but changes in methodology could increase carbon
sequestration in soils and reduce the loss of carbon already stored. A multifaceted approach is
necessary to achieve 80% reduction while also preventing economic distress in any one sector.

Fig. 3
Solutions for Impending Doom ​5

Emission Reduction Plan

Category Emission Reduction (%)

Electric Cars 15%

Renewable Energy 25%

Reduction in Fossil Fuel Mining 5%

Reducing Food Waste 0.2%

Lighting Efficiency 5%

Insulation Standards 2%

Bioplastics 1%

Ruminants Algae Diet 6%

Carbon Tax Incentive 20%

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) 5%

Total​​: 85.2%

Transportation

Electric Cars

Calculations:
1.3*108 J 1 kW h 1 TWh
1. 137 bil gal gasoline * 1 gal * 3.6 mil J * 1 bil kW h *
25% ef f iciency = 1236.81 T W h
8
1.3*10 J 1 kW h 1
i. 137 bil gal gasoline * 1 gal * 3.6 mil J * 323 mil
1236.81 T W h
2. 90% ef f iciency
≈ 1, 374 T W h needed to power U.S. cars annually if all are electric
Solutions for Impending Doom ​6

8.9 kg CO2e 1 metric ton

3. 137 bil gal gasoline * 80% * 1 gal * 1000 kg
≈ 1.2 bil metric tons CO​2​e
savings
i. Assumes electricity to charge car vehicles is sourced renewably
ii. Assumes 80% of driven cars electric by 2050
960 mil metric tons
4. 6.5 bil metric tons ≈ 15% emission reduction

Transportation accounts for 28% of overall U.S. emissions. Of this, 97% of emissions are
from fossil fuel combustion in engines (EPA, 2018). Gasoline made up 80% (137 billion gallons)
of consumed fuel in 2009 (Federal Highway Administration, 2014). If 80% of gasoline-powered
vehicles were transitioned to electric vehicles (EVs), overall emissions would fall by 15%.
While cost per mile is 75% cheaper with EVs - $1 to travel 43 miles on average - the
upfront cost of electric cars and range anxiety dissuades buyers. Energy Innovation’s model
predicts that EVs will reach 65% by 2050 on its own and 70-75% with high oil prices and EV
tech cost decline (Energy Innovation, 2017). To accomplish the more aggressive transition to
80%, government will have to heavily subsidize EVs - similar to the present subsidies for fossil
fuel companies - and invest in charging infrastructure. These tasks could be funded by phasing
out fossil fuel subsidies, which already need to be reduced to enable a renewable takeover.
Raising fuel economy standards on gasoline-powered vehicles would create emission reductions
in the short term while the cost of EV technology improves.

Energy

(U.S. Department of Energy, 2016)

Solutions for Impending Doom ​7

Electricity Source Contribution

Today 2050 2050 Demand Avg. Emissions by

per Source Source (MMt Emissions in 2050
(TWh) CO​​2​e/TWh)
​ (MMt CO​​2​e)
​

Coal 14% 0.05% 2.6 0.888 2.3

Petroleum 37% 0.15% 7.7 0.733 5.6
Natural Gas 29% 0.30% 15.4 0.499 7.7
Nuclear 9% 10% 513.6 0.029 14.9
Geothermal 0.20% 5% 256.8 0
Solar 0.70% 30% 1540.8 0.085 130.9
Wind 2.30% 25% 1284 0.026 33.4
Biomass 5% 10% 513.6 0.045 23.1
Hydroelectric 2.80% 20% 1027.2 0.026 26.7
Totals​​: 5161.7 244.7
(Monthly Energy Report, U.S. Energy Information Administration, August 2018)
(World Nuclear Association, July 2011)
Solutions for Impending Doom ​8

Calculations:
1. ​3,762 TWh (Electricity Consumption) + 1,374 TWh (Electric Cars) = ​5,136 TWh 2050 Energy
Demand
2. C urrent Electricity Sector Emissions − T otal Electricity Emissions in 2050 = E lectricity Emission Savings
a. (0.28 * 6.5 bil M T CO2e) − 244.7 = 1576 bil CO2e
1576 bil M T CO2e
3. 6.5 bil M T CO2e ≈ 25% overall emissions reduction due to renewables

Fossil fuels

(Coal, Natural gas, Petroleum (Distillate Fuel Oil, Petroleum Coke, Residual Fuel Oil/Heavy Fuel Oil)

The power generation industry is currently making the switch from coal and petroleum to
natural gas, a ‘cleaner’ bridge fuel as they explore the transition to renewables. While coal has
already begun a declining trend, the usage of natural gas and petroleum has been increasing
steadily. At the end of 2018, approximately 2,200 TWh (75%) of the entire United States’ energy
mix will have come from these three fossil fuel sources, amounting to around 1550 MtCO​2​e/yr of
​
emissions (98% of all emissions from energy production), an increase from the previous two
years.
However, if we are to successfully reduce CO​2 emissions by 80% of today’s level by
2050, then these fossil fuels must constitute only 0.5% or less of the total energy mix - a huge
reduction from the fraction it occupies today. Of this 0.5%, natural gas will make up 60% or
more, and coal and petroleum fuel 10% and 30% or less respectively. Altogether, fossil fuels will
supply at most 17.5 TWh/yr.

Solar Power

While the efficiency of solar energy capture remains a limitation on the extent to which
we can rely on solar power, it still remains the most viable and cost-efficient renewable resource
available to us. Currently, the U.S. produces approximately 26 TWh of energy from solar
facilities each year. To offset emissions, however, this number must increase to 1,541 TWh of
energy per year, contributing 30% to the overall energy mix.

Energy Projected land use

2​​ 2​​
State Land area (km​​ ) Land area (m​​ ) (kWh/m​2​​ ​/day) % Energy (TWh)
AZ 295,234 295234000000 7.5 15 121
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CA 423,972 423972000000 7.5 15 174

CO 269,601 269601000000 7.5 10 73
KA 213,100 213100000000 8 10 62
MN 225,163 225163000000 8 10 65
MO 180,540 180540000000 7 10 46

MT 380,831 380831000000 8 15 166

NE 200,330 200330000000 8 15 82
NV 286,380 286380000000 7 20 146
OK 181,037 181037000000 8 10 52
TX 695,662 695662000000 7.5 15 285
UT 219,882 219882000000 8 20 128
WI 169,635 169635000000 7 15 65
WY 253,335 253335000000 8 15 110
TOTAL 1575

Not only does solar power provide a reliable source of energy, it also generates enough -
if not more than enough - employment to absorb the jobs lost in the coal and petroleum industry.
Currently, even with only 0.7% of energy production in the U.S. coming from solar, it is still
supplying double the amount of jobs that the coal industry creates. Studies also show that it is
currently creating jobs 17% faster than the U.S. economy does naturally. A high school diploma
or a GSD are the only qualifications needed for many of the positions provided. These jobs
continue after installation due to maintenance and replacement needs. (National Solar Jobs
Census, 2018)

Wind

Wind energy today is a major part of the United States’ renewable energy arsenal, with it
making up 21% of renewable generation in 2018. Like solar power, wind energy will be
indispensable to this scheme. Currently, the U.S. has the capacity to generate enough energy to
fulfill 25% of the energy mix in 2050, or 1,284 TWh/yr. Large scale wind farms can span the
majority of the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. As shown in the table below, the US can
utilize a small amount of space in only six states and still generate enough electricity for this
proposal. In addition, the Energy Department has found that wind energy can support over
600,000 jobs in 2050.
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Wind speed Energy State total land Land used Energy

State (m/s) Power (kW/m​2​​ ​) (kWh/m​2​​ ​) area (m​2​​ ​) (%) (TWh/yr)
NV 7 0.2058 360.5616 286380000000 3 309
WA 7 0.2058 360.5616 184826700000 3 199
WY 7 0.2058 360.5616 253335000000 5 456
OR 7 0.2058 360.5616 255025800000 3 275
UT 7 0.2058 360.5616 169635000000 5 305
KY 7 0.2058 360.5616 104658000000 3 113
TOTAL 1657

Hydroelectric

As 2018 approaches its end, the US is on track to generate 833 TWh of hydroelectric
power – about 6% of total electricity produced each year (US Energy Information
Administration, 2018). By the year 2050, it is assumed that the US will have the ability to
annually produce 7,000 TWh of hydroelectricity. This will be equivalent to about 20% of the
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 11

electricity produced in the US. To achieve this number, the US will have to increase its
hydroelectric energy output by about 1028 TWh every five-year interval.
90% of dams in the US are not generating electricity as of 2018, meaning there are over
80,000 structures not in commission. According to data from the National Hydropower
Association (NHA), upgrading a non-powered dam to one that creates 0.05 TWh of power per
year costs about $133,333,334. If the US were to enhance 20,000 dams to the capability of
creating 0.31 TWh of energy per year by 2050, the goal of producing 7,000 TWh of
hydroelectricity would be met; however, this would require about $1.65 trillion to complete.
At its current potential, utilizing hydroelectric power is reducing carbon emissions by
over 200 million metric tons (Harris, 2014). Continuing this trend, the US has the ability to
decrease carbon emissions by over 1,681 million metric tons. To add to the positives of
hydropower, Navigant Consulting has found that 1.4 million jobs could be created by 2025 –
giving plenty of time for further expansion.
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 12

Geothermal

Despite the growth and development of geothermal energy stalling in the past decade,
mostly due to cheaper oil and natural gas prices dominating the market, geothermal energy
remains a feasible and steady source of renewable energy to support the energy mix. With proper
financing and legislation allowing easier setup of new geothermal power plants, geothermal
energy could fulfill anywhere up to 5% of the total energy mix, and supply more than 256.8
TWh of energy each year. The long-term investment of geothermal energy in drilling and
establishing infrastructure, though similar to the process of setting up extraction sites for fossil
fuels, provides a more stable and long-lasting energy resource than fossil fuels for similar costs
and labor. However, geothermal power facilities are threatened by tectonic unpredictability, and
human intervention may lead to earthquakes along populated fault lines.
Currently there are seven states in the US that are utilizing geothermal energy. As of
2016, these states are producing 7.4 TWh of energy each year. In order to supply 256.8 TWh of
energy by 2050, the US will need to increase its geothermal power by about 249.4 TWh, or 8.3
TWh each year between 2020 and 2050. Given that there are seventeen states with reasonable
geothermal potential, Yale University has concluded it possible for the United States to rely on
geothermal energy for 5% of US power. Out of these seventeen states, nine of them have a
higher capability for geothermal energy and could each produce 21 TWh annually. Those states
include Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, and
Utah. In order to build these geothermal plants, each of those states would need to sacrifice about
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 13

2,405 acres of land. The remaining eight states with sufficient geothermal potential – Alaska,
Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming – could each
generate 8.5 TWh/yr, and would need to forfeit 3,893 acres each. Unfortunately this plan is
expensive, and would require about $243 billion. On a positive note, it has been found that
geothermal energy creates about 1 job per MW capacity, meaning that by 2050 about 117,600
jobs would be implemented.

Biomass

Biomass currently provides the US with 5% of its electricity. By 2050 biomass energy
production needs to double. Based on how the biomass industry is expanding in the US, its
production will double well before 2050. In an annual biomass outlook report by the U.S. Energy
Information Administration, biomass was projected to grow with a high oil and gas price
(assumed because fossil fuel subsidies will be reduced under this plan) to 5.1 quadrillion Btu, or
29% of electricity generation in 2040 (EIA, 2015). This assumes that the market will encourage
farmers to grow energy crops for specifically biomass electricity generation. There is debate on
biomass viability when considering the entire energy life cycle. That is why this plan limits
growth to 10%. Biomass can instead act as a backup source to the more varying renewable
energies increasing and decreasing as needed. Excess biomass fuels can be used for animal feed,
or the US can sell this excess promoting renewable energy throughout the world. Biomass can be
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 14

sold as generated electricity through international transmission lines and/or shipped to

neighboring countries to burn there. The revenue from those sales can contribute to funding for
other renewable subsidies.

Buildings

Lighting Efficiency

From the chart above, we can infer:

Types of Only Only Only Incande CFL+ Incande All
light bulbs Incande CFL LED scent+ LED scent+ three
scent CFL LED types

percentage 11% 10% 1% 50% 7% 7% 14%

Assume that all Incandescent and CFL light bulb in residential use are replaced
with LED light bulbs in 2050.
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 15

Lighting Daily Kwh Annual Kwh Co2 Produced

Technology Consumed (@8hr) Consumed (Coal Based Power
(@8hr/day) Generation)

Incandescent (60 0.48 175.2 152.42 Kg

Watts)

CFL (14 Watts) 0.11 40.15 34.93 Kg

LED (9 Watts) 0.07 25.55 22.23 Kg

Calculations:
Residential Lighting​​:
There are 126.22 millions of homes in the U.S. and assumes an average house has
45 light bulbs.

Incandescent→LED:
● 0.441(percentage of houses using Incandescent light
bulbs)*126,220,000*45*(152.42-22.23)
○ ≈ 326,000,000(metric ton of CO2)

CFL →LED:
● 0.431(percentage of houses using Incandescent light
bulbs)*126,220,000*45*(34.93-22.23)
○ ≈ 31,000,000(metric ton of CO2)

Total: 357 million metric ton of CO2 ≈ 5% emission reduction

Improving Insulation Standards

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction (MMT)

Existing Insulation Additional Potential

Residential 611.0 113.0

Commercial 95.7 16.4

Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 16

Industrial n/a 3.7

Total 706.7 133.1

(NAIMA,1996)

Calculations:
133 M M T
1. 6500 M M T = 2% reduction in overall emissions

Upgrading insulation is one of the easiest ways to improve heating and cooling in
buildings, which make up 41% of primary energy consumption (USGBC, 2018). Policy that
raises minimum insulation requirements for buildings, especially in northern states, would
decrease loss due to conduction. A study by the North American Insulation Manufacturers
Association found that insulation improvements could reduce U.S. emissions by 133.1 MMT, or
2% of overall emissions. Insulation makes sense beyond emission savings too. It has an energy
yield ratio of 12 to 1 within its first year of use, and it saves homeowners money within 2-8 years
of installation.

Educating Building Inspectors

When a building permit is proposed that uses a common source of energy, such as coal,
natural gas, or petroleum, inspectors are familiar with the process which speeds approval. The
permit is approved within two weeks of the proposition, and the building inspection lasts an
average of two hours. However, when a permit is proposed for a building in an urban area that
uses a renewable source of energy, it can take up to 4-6 weeks to be approved. The building
inspection and approval takes a five month average. In a rural area, this process can take
anywhere from six months to ten years to complete. These delays are caused by lack of
education in renewable energy sources. Because the process of decreasing CO₂ emissions must
happen quickly, the time wasted while waiting for approval must be reduced. Beginning the
process of educating building inspectors on renewable sources of energy will allow the
installation of these sources to begin almost immediately after they are proposed. (Pitt, 2016)

Industry

Reductions in Fossil Fuel Mining

Calculations:
1. N atural Gas and P etrol systems emissions + coal mining emissions = M M T CO2e reduced
a. 257.52 bil CO2e + 60.51 bil CO2e = 318.03 bil M M T CO2e reduced
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 17

2. 318 bil M M T CO2e

6500 bil M M T CO2e ≈ 5% reduction in overall emissions

Emissions due to coal mining and natural gas and petroleum systems was equivalent to
318 MMT of CO​2​ in 2016 ​(EPA, 2016)​. Reducing fossil fuel dependence in the energy sector to
0.5% of total electricity generation will lower emissions in the mining of these fossil fuels to
negligible values. This will reduce U.S. emissions 5% overall. Jobs lost to mining will be made
up in solar panel and wind turbine production. Reducing fossil fuel mining has the added benefit
of improving environmental and public health in polluted mining towns.

Bioplastics
Emissions Reduction: ​1%​ (I Daniel Posen)

Because plastics are a byproduct of oil and this plan severely reduces fossil fuel
production, the U.S. will have to import materials or find a plastic alternative. a transition to
bioplastics would be the more sustainable solution. This switch would allow the U.S. to keep
producing their packaging in house, but would require plastic demand to limit growth between
1-3% till 2050 (I Daniel Posen). This limited growth could be met through governments passing
single-use plastic restrictions, like California’s ban on plastic straws. Thermoplastics will be
replaced with bioethylene-based and polylactic acid plastics, which are made from corn and
switchgrass. Pesticides used to grow these crops should be closely evaluated so that excessive
pollutants are not being created during the raw materials stage of bioplastic life cycles.
Production will be powered using renewables (see Energy section). Non-durable bioplastics can
be composted in industrial facilities (see Reducing Food Waste and Composting), while durable
bioplastics can be recycled in specially-equipped facilities at end of life.

Carbon Capture and Storage Technology

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) remains a viable option for reducing CO​2​ emissions
from industries that unlike the power, heating/cooling and transport sectors, cannot make large
emissions cuts without a complete change in their manufacturing process, such as the steel and
cement manufacturing industries. The cement industry by itself produced 87 million metric tons
of CO​2​ in 2001 (Lisa J. Hanle, Environmental Protection Agency), and the production of
concrete is expected to increase almost twofold by 2050.
Carbon is captured from large point sources, compressed and injected into storage sites,
such as oil and gas reservoirs and unmineable coal seams. Properly managed reservoirs are likely
to retain over 99% of sequestered CO​2 for
​ more than 100 years, and 99% for over 1000 years.
Technology available today can effectively capture up to 85% (IPCC Special Report on Carbon
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 18

Dioxide Capture and Storage). When applied to the cement industry, it can cut up to 1% of the
United States’ total emissions. When applied to the fossil fuel industry, it can reduce total
emissions by 55% - theoretically. On a more practical scale, accounting for costs and scale over
the entire United States, it is more likely that this number falls to a much smaller 5-10% or
perhaps even less; due to this uncertainty we have not included it as part of our plan. However,
with enough research, development and stringent regulation, CCS might become widespread
enough by 2050 to make such a number realistic.

Agriculture

Ruminants Algae Diet

Calculations:
● In 2016, U.S. produces 68 million kg of lambs and 11 billion of beef.
● Each kg of lamb emits 17.4kg of CO2 equivalent, while each kg of beef emits 34.6kg of
CO2 equivalent. (​Environmental Impacts on Food Production and Consumption)
● Lamb: 68,000,000*17.4=1,183,200,000
○ 1,183,200,000*0.8=945,560,000
● Beef: 11,000,000,000*34.6=380,600,000,000
○ 380,600,000,000*0.99=376,794,000,000
● Total reduction=377,741,000,000(kg)=377,741,000(metric ton)
378 M M T
○ 6500 M M T = 6% overall emissions reduction

Ruminants, such as cows and sheep have a special digestion process that produces large
quantities of methane. A group of scientists in Australia found a way to reduce methane
emissions from these ruminants-feeding them seaweed. By adding two percent of ​Asparagopsis
taxiformis​, a species of red algae, in cows’ feed, it reduced methane production by 99 percent. In
live sheep, the same dose led to a 70 to 80 percent drop in methane.

Reducing Food Waste

Emissions Reduction: ​0.2%​ (Bloom & Gunders, 2012)

Food waste in the U.S makes up 2.6% of total emissions. 92.4% of U.S. food waste
comes from grocery stores. In France, a law stipulates that grocery stores must donate their food,
sell misshapen produce at a reduced price, create more realistic “sell-by” dates, and use
composting for the true waste. Implementing this in the U.S. would decrease annual emissions
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 19

by 15,6156,000 metric tons of CO₂e, or 0.2%. This is a small percentage, but offering fresh
produce at a reduced price encourages lower-income consumers to purchase fresh rather than
processed. Processed food is not only more energy-intensive but leads to health issues. Making
fresh food more attainable in this manner could encourage more energy-efficient and healthy
diets. (Bloom & Gunders, 2012) (Bailet, 2018)

Policy

Carbon Tax Incentive

A carbon tax applied at the source - at petroleum refineries, coal mines, and natural gas
wells - could, at a most optimistic estimate, cover virtually all carbon emissions from fossil fuels
and reduce emissions by up to 30% of today’s levels by 2050 (Gilbert E. Metcalf, 2017) (World
Resources Institute, 2016). However, the tax itself creates issues within the economy and
government, leading to an unrealistically positive number. Firstly, the rate at which benefits are
discounted do not always remain in consensus, and the cost of the tax itself may not be permitted
to be as high as the social cost of carbon (SCC), which is the external cost of long-term damage
of one metric ton of carbon on the environment, economy and society. Although the current best
estimate for the SCC is $50 per ton (Bethany Noll, NYU School of Law Institute for Policy
Integrity, 2018) a tax starting at $25 per ton and increasing at a rate of between 5-10% per year
may be enforceable, and can still lead to at least a 20% cut in emissions by 2050.
Through taxes, regulations, and policy, Sweden has become the number one country in
reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The most impactful solution is their “green taxes”. These are
taxes placed on fuels, products, and energy sources that are derived from fossil fuels or emit
carbon dioxide when burned or processed. This tax was implemented in 1990 and created an
annual 2% decrease in CO₂ for the first ten year until the difference plateaued. The percentage of
the population living in poverty in Sweden is approximately half of the percentage of the United
States’ population living in poverty. (Poverty USA, 2018) (Borgen Project, 2016) Therefore, the
U.S. implementing a tax of approximately half the amount of Sweden would be reasonable.
Basing the prediction from the success of Sweden, this could potentially cause a decrease of 1%
of CO₂ emissions in the U.S. for the first 5-10 years after implementing the tax. The tax in
Sweden eradicated the use of oil for heating homes. In the U.S., 5.7 million homes use heating
oil at an average rate of 3 gallons a day. This is 17.1 million gallons of oil a day, or 6.241 billion
gallons of oil per year. With the conversion of 138,500 BTU per gallon of heating oil, the U.S.
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 20

used 864 trillion BTU per year. For every million BTU of heating oil used, 157.2 pounds of CO₂
14
is emitted. 8.64 *10 = 864,000,000 → 864,000,000 = 5,496,183.206 lbs or 2,492,600.093 kg of
1000000 157.2
CO₂ is emitted annually. The green tax could potentially decrease this emission by 50%. This
would decrease the emissions by 1,246 metric tons of CO₂ per year. (Schnarin & Wölstrom,
2018) (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2017)
It is important to note that without proper redistribution of revenues earned from this tax,
the economy can experience negative effects, such as an unfair load on certain groups of the
population (such as low-income households and workers in the fossil fuel industry). The price of
emission-intensive goods and fuels will go up, which affects consumers. Therefore, the tax
revenue, in addition to being used for the renewable energy budget, can go into reducing these
negative effects (Congressional Budget Office, 2013).

Eliminating Red Tape for Renewables

In the United States, the process of investing in renewable energy is a long journey –
mostly due to the amount of red tape or “costs of doing business” that are unnecessarily involved
in the process. In certain cases, the procedure of getting solar panels for a home’s roof can take
up to six months. This is because, after deciding on a company to purchase from, local
governments still need to sign off on permits, help install, inspect the installation, and connect
the resource to the electrical grid. Each of these steps is time consuming, especially as the
demand for renewable resources is greater than the approval rate.
There are multiple straightforward options that would reduce these challenges. For
instance, creating basic, statewide standards of prerequisites to be met prior to beginning
installation. Also, educating inspectors in renewable technology to help prepare them for
reviewing properties will be crucial to accelerating the initial process. Standard fees can also be
attached to permits, instead of analyzing each individual situation before deciding on a fee
amount. Creating a few basic guidelines to the renewable energy inspection process can benefit
the entire system greatly, therefore promoting renewable energy as a whole.

Meatless Mondays

In public schools and government-run food services, only vegetarian options will be
served once a week. While overall emissions effect due to this is negligible, this switch gives
government the opportunity to support and educate people on plant rich diets, easing a transition
to less meat consumption which would then create positive impacts on public and environmental
health. Because animal protein is also the most costly element of a meal, meatless mondays
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 21

would save money. Meatless mondays would require an alteration to federal meal planning
standards though - which require 2 ounces of meat protein or qualified equivalents in every
lunch (​The Cost of School Lunch​). These standards do not currently recognize plant-based
proteins that do not resemble a meat substitution, like tofu noodles, eligible for the 2 oz. meat
equivalent (“Meat Alternative,” Oregon.gov).

​Economics

Types of Solar Wind Hydro Geothermal Biomass Total

energy

Cost (USD) 378 billion 700 billion 1.65 trillion 243 billion 176 billion 3.15 trillion

Solar: 8kW (system size); 17,584 each

Wind: 10kW (system size); 48,000 each
Biomass: 3,000 per kW

Budget

Much like the oil, coal, and natural gas industry, the solar and wind farms can be run
through private companies that make revenue off of selling their product. Because of this, the
budget needed from the government now becomes $1.45 trillion. The carbon tax has the ability
to make $1.3 trillion for the government. To make this tax less controversial, half of the earnings,
$650 billion, will be put into this plan. Half of the defense budget will be used throughout 30
years with $105 billion being put to use each year. The realistic justification for this comes from
there being an unlikely chance that violence would erupt against the U.S. due to their energy
sources now being produced within their borders. This totals to $443 billion from the defense
budget total. Private donations from environmental activist and sustainable companies, such as
Amazon, Tesla, Google, Patagonia, Microsoft, and Apple, can make significant contributions to
enabling this plan. Realistically, there is going to be national debt in pursuing this project. This
debt can be offset in the future due to the prevention of money being used elsewhere. The service
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 22

needed for natural disasters, that would be caused by the rising temperatures, would be
eliminated. Also, the healthcare that would be provided due to rising levels of carbon dioxide
will be prevented.
Solutions for Impending Doom ​ 23

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