Building Towards a Sustainable US Energy Industry, The Danish Initiative and Carbon Credit System as Basis for a Framework

This study establishes a new framework for the transition of the United States energy industry from one dominated by traditional forms of energy to one that incorporates a larger proportion of sustainable energy. This thesis explores the current landscape of the United States energy industry to analyze how the Danish Initiative and the Carbon Credit System can provide the basis. This model targets both the cause – the energy industry as the United States’ biggest polluter (McDonnell, 2015) – and the possible solution – this sector has the tools and infrastructure to lead the transition towards sustainability (UCSusa, 2017) – to carbon emission mitigation, in an effort to take the best factors from each approach to determine which characteristics are applicable to the US. Through documentary analyses and data collection from expert interviews and traditional energy industry surveys, the study finds evidence of a resistance to change, the need for government and industry spending, and renewable energy technology imperfections all of which inhibit the transition. The model consists of both a short- and long-term approach. The short-term focuses on the implementation of solar and wind infrastructure and R&D as well as the introduction of the study’s new carbon credit trading system. The long-term suggests the continuation of efforts and the addition of other renewables, ultimately to achieve an energy production portfolio comprised of 50% renewable energies by 2050. To conclude, the thesis recognizes potential drawbacks and identifies possible directions for future research.