Department of Energy, 2009 DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) was first established in 1977 by Jimmy Carter in response to the 1973 oil crisis. It is tasked with overseeing federal energy policy and production, among other areas relating to nuclear security, cybersecurity and more. The year is 2009, and amidst the Great Recession, the Obama administration is implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The legislation allocates more than 90 billion dollars to clean energy programs to implement comprehensive energy reform, create new jobs, and reduce fossil fuel emissions. With these goals in mind, this committee seeks to delve into the following topics:

Topic A: Energy Efficiency
Reducing energy usage while ensuring proper provision of services was a key policy goal of ARRA. For instance, 3.2 billion dollars were allocated towards the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program with this objective in mind. Funding flowed towards initiatives such as retrofitting public buildings with energy-saving technologies, investing in research and development, and modernizing the electric grid. There are a variety of decisions to be considered by this committee, from the role of federal regulation in ensuring efficient appliances, to the strictness of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards on car manufacturers. Delegates will consider what sort of policy shifts and investment decisions to be made with ARRA funds are most prudent in a rapidly changing and warming world.

Topic B: Implementation of Solar Energy
ARRA gave over 2 billion in loan guarantees and grants to renewable energy, focusing on solar energy. They aimed to drive innovation, develop infrastructure for renewables, support domestic manufacturing of solar panels, and make the US less reliant on foreign oil. Even with this support, however, there were great barriers to implementation as the US dealt with underdeveloped infrastructure, high prices, and a lack of domestic production. At this point, it cost around 40,000 dollars to purchase a 5-kilowatt solar panel system, and that system contained parts imported from Europe and China. Delegates must consider how to address a variety of issues. Should grants be controlled by the state or federal government? Should they be unilaterally given, or targeted toward areas where solar power is more effective? What involvement should the private sector have, if at all? The committee will be forced to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each implementation strategy.

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