Social, Economic, and Political Aspects of
Energy Use and Policy (SEPAE)
The Social, Economic, and Political Aspects of Energy (SEPAE) team within the Energy Center (EC) will conduct analyses for the energy technologies other EC groups are researching. SEPAE encompasses energy economics, energy systems, and energy policy analysis as well as evaluation of consumer and political acceptance of new technologies. Interpersonal communications, mass media, product cost, and product convenience all influence consumer’s choices of energy consuming and energy-generating products. As a result, the technology development process can be most effective if technology acceptance analysis is performed simultaneously with development. Similarly, we must develop energy policy pathways to complement technology pathways.
SEPAE one-page fact sheet
Researchers
Brian Bowen, Discovery Park–Energy Center–Center for Coal Technology Research
Timothy Cason, Krannert School of Management–Economics
Clinton Chapple, College of Agriculture–Biochemistry
Heather Cooper, College of Technology–Mechanical Engineering Technology
Otto Doering, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Richard Feinberg, College of Consumer and Family Sciences–Consumer Sciences and Retailing
Audeen Fentiman, College of Engineering–Nuclear Engineering
Doug Gotham, Discovery Park–Energy Center (State Utility Forecasting Group)
Tom Hertel, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Christopher Hurt, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Janice Kelly, College of Liberal Arts–Psychological Sciences
Richard Meilan, College of Agriculture–Forestry and Natural Resources
Glenn Parker, College of Liberal Arts–Political Science
Harry Potter, College of Liberal Arts–Sociology
Paul Preckel, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Leigh Raymond, College of Liberal Arts–Political Science
Farzad Taheripour, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Wallace Tyner, College of Agriculture–Agricultural Economics
Duane Wegener, College of Liberal Arts–Psychological Sciences
Qianlai Zhuang, College of Science–Earth and Atmospheric Sciences & Agronomy
Current Projects
Social, Economic, and Political Aspects of U.S. Ethanol Policy
Funding Source: National Science Foundation program on Human and Social Dynamics
The research addresses the economic consequences of the seven most likely forms of U.S. ethanol policy and the public and political reactions to these policies. The proposed activities include economic modeling, focus group and survey research on public perceptions of ethanol policies, comparisons between perceptions of the lay public and political elites in states that differ in support for using genetically modified plants to produce ethanol, and laboratory research on decision processes related to ethanol.
Analysis of Global Economic and Environmental Impacts of a Substantial Increase in Bioenergy Production
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Energy
The goal of this research is to develop realistic assessments of the economic and environmental impacts of regional and global policies designed to stimulate bioenergy production and use. We will build on the unique strengths of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) to analyze economic impacts of alternative bioenergy policies at regional and global levels. We will use the Terrestrial Ecosystems Model (TEM) model to evaluate the potential for new lands to be brought into production in the wake of biofuel programs, as well as to validate environmental consequences of these policies and check their feasibility from a fundamental bio-geochemical perspective.
