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Article
Energy Efficiency and Conservation: New Legal Tools and Opportunities
Natural Resources & Environment (2011)
  • John C. Dernbach
  • Robert B. McKinstry, Jr
  • Darin Lowder
Abstract

Many new and ambitious energy efficiency and conservation laws are being enacted at all levels of government—and with greater financial incentives than provided previously. These innovations are intended to overcome or minimize market barriers such as principal-agent problems, information and transaction costs, high internal discount rates, and up-front capital needs that discourage cost-saving investments. Innovations such as public-private partnerships also require significant legal input and creativity for the client to reap the often remarkably large energy and cost savings. This article reviews a range of these tools, especially financial legal mechanisms, that could help significantly reduce U.S. energy consumption.

Keywords
  • : energy efficiency,
  • energy conservation,
  • climate change,
  • sustainable development,
  • sustainability,
  • energy consumption,
  • greenhouse gas emissions,
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
  • taxation,
  • tax credit,
  • tax deduction
Publication Date
Spring 2011
Citation Information
John C. Dernbach, Robert B. McKinstry and Darin Lowder. "Energy Efficiency and Conservation: New Legal Tools and Opportunities" Natural Resources & Environment Vol. 25 Iss. 4 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john_dernbach/100/