Policy memo
You must write a short memo to a politician of your choice,
explaining why they should support a specific energy policy.
Policy examples:
Subsidies for electric vehicles.
A carbon tax.
A feed-in tariff.
A tax credit for XXX technology.
R&D for XXX technology.
An RPS or NEM.
Capacity pricing
A ban on hydraulic fracturing.
In your memo you must cover the following topics: • Your argument: why should they support this policy? • Describe Policy: How would this policy work? Explain in detail, including the key energy institutions that would be involved. • Policy Examples: Is there an existing example of this policy that is worth following (or avoiding) — explain in detail. (Look ahead to policy cases in the syllabus to find examples of readings you can cite.) • Political Strategy: How specifically would you enact this policy? Through a bill in the legislature? Through a budget? Through a referendum? • Political Barriers: What are the political obstacles to enacting this policy? Consider key actors, including interest groups, the public, bureaucrats and other politicians.
Format: • 4 pages, double-spaced, excluding references. • You must format the memo at the top, addressing it to someone specific, putting your name and a title for your argument. • Sources: • You must cite academic literature. If you don’t know where to start, look at the syllabus. • Writing • Quite short! Key thing: you need to write concisely and precisely. • Look at the syllabus for writing guidelines
