Time: Tuesday, 4:30 to 7:10PM
Location: Fairfax Campus, Finley Building Conference Room

Instructor: Robert P. Morgan
Office: Finley Hall Room 203A
Phone: 703-465-1245
E-mail: rmorgan4@gmu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30 to 4 PM or by appointment

Course Description

This course is designed as a one-semester overview of issues in energy policy and technology, and their environmental impacts and implications. No prior background in energy technology is needed. The course will cover most if not all of the following topics to varying degrees: Assessing energy policy alternatives and their environmental consequences. U.S. energy policy in historical perspective. Energy technologies (fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, renewables, etc.), their principal applications (industrial, transportation, residential, etc.) and their environmental impacts. Energy supply and demand; energy efficiency and conservation; economics and politics of energy; electricity deregulation; patterns of dependence on imports; U.S. and global energy security. Global climate impacts and implications of alternative energy scenarios; sustainable energy development.

About the Instructor

The course will be taught by Robert P. Morgan, Visiting Research Professor in the School of Public Policy. For many years, as Professor and Chair of the Department of Technology and Human Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, Professor Morgan created and taught innovative courses dealing with various aspects of energy policy and technology to students with a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and interests -- the social sciences as well as the natural sciences and engineering. A nuclear and chemical engineer by training, his work experience has included involvement in studies by the former Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress on environmental cleanup and remediation of nuclear weapons facilities. He is the author or co-author of 140 papers and reports, as well as four books, including Renewable Resource Utilization for Development.

Further Information About the Course

Student performance in the course will be based upon the following:

1. Regular attendance and participation in class discussions. (25%)

2. Two papers, 2,500 words minimum each. One paper will based on a policy-relevant topic of your choice, subject to the instructor's prior approval. Some examples of possible topics of current interest include: U. S. Middle East oil dependence; California energy deregulation; the U.S. stance on the Kyoto climate protocol; ANWR drilling; fuel cell cars; mandating improved auto fuel economy; nuclear waste disposal, etc. The other paper will be a review of selected chapters of: United Nations and World Energy Council, "World Energy Assessment: Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability", UNDP, New York, 2000. This report is available chapter by chapter on the web at http://www.undp.org/seed/eap/activities/wea/drafts-frame.html. (40%)

3. Final examination. (35%)

Required Books)

David Howard Davis, "Energy Politics", Fourth Edition, St. Martins Press, 1993, (paperback).

Toman, Michael, ed. "Climate Change: Economics and Policy", Resources for the Future paperback, 2001.

"Global Energy: Perspectives", edited by Nebojsa Nakicenovic,
Arnulf Grubler and Alan McDonald, Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Flavin, Christopher and Nicholas Lenssen, "Power Surge: Guide to the Coming Energy Revolution", Norton, 1994.

Note: There may occasionally be other required readings (short ones!) and there are some useful sources of data and supplemental materials which will be made available.

Course Outline (Tentative; Subject to Change).

Week 1, January 22
Introduction to the Course. Class Background and Interests. Current Policy Issues in Energy and The Environment. Energy Fundamentals.

Week 2, January 29
Energy Fundamentals. Fossil Fuels: Resources and Impacts.
Assignment: Read Davis through p. 62; Read "Power Surge" through p. 49; Read "Climate Change" through p. 7; Read "Global Energy Perspectives" (GEP) through p. 3.

Week 3, February 5
Petroleum; Environmental Impacts; Introduction to Kyoto.
Assignment: Read Davis pp. 63-131; Read "Power Surge" pp. 50-70; Read "Climate Change" pp. 11-34.

Week 4, February 12
Natural Gas; Electricity.
Assignment: Read Davis: pp. 132-205; Read "Power Surge" pp. 73-114.

Week 5, February 19
Paper Number One Due. Prepare a written review of selected chapters in: United Nations and World Energy Council, "World Energy Assessment: Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability", UNDP, New York, 2000. Present your review in class.
This report is available chapter by chapter on the web at http://www.undp.org/seed/eap/activities/wea/drafts-frame.html. (Chapter assignments will be agreed upon previously in class).

Week 6, February 26
Nuclear Energy; How Reactors Work; Radiation Effects and Safety; Nuclear Waste Disposal.
Assignment: Read Davis pp. 206-247.

Week 7, March 5
Wind Energy; Solar Energy; Biofuels.
Assignment: Read "Power Surge" pp. 115-192; Read Davis, pp. 248-272.

March 12. No class. Spring break.

Week 8, March 19
Energy Use in Transportation, Buildings; Reshaping the Electric Power Industry.
Assignment: Read "Power Surge" pp. 196-266; Read Davis pp. 273-295.

Week 9, March 26
Energy Futures; Climate Change.
Assignment: Read "Power Surge" pp. 269-312; Read GEP pp. 5-22; Read "Climate Change" pp. 35-57

Week 10, April 2
Paper Number 2 Due. Prepare an energy and environment policy paper on a topic of your choice. (topic requires prior approval by instructor). Be prepared to present paper in class. Further information will be forthcoming.

Week 11, April 9
Determinants of Future Energy Systems; Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Assignment: Read GEP pp. 23-61; Read "Climate Change" pp. 61-96.

Week 12, April 16
Energy Systems Alternatives; Climate Change: Policy Design and Implementation Issues.
Assignment: Read GEP pp. 63-95; Read "Climate Change" pp. 99-152.

Week 13, April 23
Energy Systems Alternatives: Implications; Climate Change: Policy Design and Implementation Issues.
Assignment: Read GEP pp. 97-140; Read "Climate Change" pp. 153-198.

Week 14, April 30
Climate Change; International Considerations; Conclusions.
Assignment: Read GEP pp. 241-252; Read "Climate Change" pp. 205-265.

Final examination: To be scheduled.