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Executive Summary
Pages 1-6

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From page 1...
... First, with a sustained national commitment, the United States could obtain substantial energy efficiency improvements, new sources of energy, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing and emerging energy-supply and end-use technologies. These options are described in more detail below and in Chapter 2.
From page 2...
... projected increases in energy consumption through 2030. In fact, the full deployment of cost-effective energy efficiency technologies in buildings alone could eliminate the need to construct any new electricity-generating plants in the United States except to address regional sup ply imbalances, replace obsolete power generation assets, or substitute more environmentally benign electricity sources -- assuming, of course, that these effi ciency savings are not used to support increased use of electricity in other sectors.
From page 3...
... However, it is not clear whether adequate supplies of natural gas will be available at com petitive prices to support substantially increased levels of electricity gen eration, and such expansion could expose the United States to greater import dependence and result in increased emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)
From page 4...
... Sixth, substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the electric ity sector are achievable over the next two to three decades through a portfolio approach involving the widespread deployment of energy efficiency technologies; renewable energy; coal, natural gas, and biomass with carbon capture and stor age; and nuclear technologies. Achieving substantial greenhouse gas reductions in the transportation sector over the next two to three decades will also require a portfolio approach involving the widespread deployment of energy efficiency tech nologies, alternative liquid fuels with low life-cycle CO2 emissions, and light-duty vehicle electrification technologies.
From page 5...
... Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the liquid-fuel-based transportation sector in the 2020–2035 timeframe will also require a portfolio approach that includes cellulosic ethanol and coal-and-biomass-to-liquid fuels. Coal-andbiomass-to-liquid fuels can be produced in quantity starting around 2020 but will not have low carbon emissions unless geologic storage of CO2 is demonstrated to be safe and commercially viable by 2015.
From page 6...
... High-priority technology demonstration opportunities during the next decade include CCS, evolutionary nuclear power technologies, cellulosic ethanol, and advanced light-duty vehicles. Research and development opportuni ties during the next decade include advanced batteries and fuel cells, advanced large-scale storage for electrical load management, enhanced geothermal power, and advanced solar photovoltaic technologies.


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