ABSTRACT
The United States (US) energy picture is unique in a number of ways. In energy trilemma terms they were able to move ahead with actions that did not involve large trade-offs with other national objectives. Compounding the wicked energy problem in the US is the fact that most of the optimal policies in aiding the country's energy transition are unavailable. As noted previously, historically US priorities and the outcome of market forces have positioned the country with high marks in energy security and energy equity. While the Bush Administration was steadfast in its emissions position, momentum was building in the US for greater efforts towards averting climate change. The shift in US leadership was expected to give climate change a high priority and thus shift the US approach to international climate negotiations. Most importantly, shale gas greatly reduces the costs of transitioning to a lower-carbon economy where new green technologies can assume a dominant role in power generation.
