Retrospective Examination of Demand-side Energy-efficiency Policies

Energy efficiency policies are a primary avenue for reducing carbon emissions, with potential additional benefits from improved air quality and energy security. We review literature on a broad range of existing non-transportation energy efficiency policies covering appliance standards, financial incentives, information and voluntary programs, and government energy use (building and professional codes are not included). Estimates indicate these programs are likely to have collectively saved up to 4 quads of energy annually, with appliance standards and utility demand-side management likely making up at least half these savings. Energy Star, Climate Challenge, and 1605b voluntary emissions reductions may also contribute significantly to aggregate energy savings, but how much of these savings would have occurred absent these programs is less clear. Although even more uncertain, reductions in CO2, NOX, SO2, and PM-10 associated with energy savings may contribute about 10% more to the value of energy savings.energy efficiency policy, appliance standards, information, incentives, voluntary programs

The Bohl spectrum for nonautonomous differential equations

We develop the Bohl spectrum for nonautonomous linear differential equation on a half line, which is a spectral concept that lies between the Lyapunov and the Sacker--Sell spectrum. We prove that the Bohl spectrum is given by the union of finitely many intervals, and we show by means of an explicit example that the Bohl spectrum does not coincide with the Sacker--Sell spectrum in general. We demonstrate for this example that any higher-order nonlinear perturbation is exponentially stable, although this not evident from the Sacker--Sell spectrum. We also analyze in detail situations in which the Bohl spectrum is identical to the Sacker-Sell spectrum

Competing Objectives in the Reorganization of Maine State Government

The budget difficulties faced by Maine and by most other states have prompted a national search for better ways to deliver government services. In Maine, a conference entitled Rethinking Maine Government was held at the University of Maine on January 5-6, 1993 under the auspices of the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy. MPR has selected three of the presentations at that conference for this issue. Kenneth Palmer in this article provides a historical view on previous efforts to reorganize Maine government

Maine’s Paradoxical Politics

Kenneth Palmer’s article, based on his 2009 University of Maine College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Maine Heritage Lecture, discusses the para­doxes of Maine’s politics that often draw national attention. He notes how these paradoxes have contrib­uted to the state’s having a “creative and effective political system.” Maine politics are dynamic in nature, with parties loosely hung together, governors winning by pluralities rather than majorities, and significant turnover both in members and parties in legislative districts. Palmer suggests that Maine’s political leaders find themselves as centrists, primarily because they want to find practical solutions to difficult problems

Energy Efficiency Economics and Policy

Energy efficiency and conservation are considered key means for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving other energy policy goals, but associated market behavior and policy responses have engendered debates in the economic literature. We review economic concepts underlying consumer decisionmaking in energy efficiency and conservation and examine related empirical literature. In particular, we provide an economic perspective on the range of market barriers, market failures, and behavioral failures that have been cited in the energy efficiency context. We assess the extent to which these conditions provide a motivation for policy intervention in energy-using product markets, including an examination of the evidence on policy effectiveness and cost. While theory and empirical evidence suggest there is potential for welfare-enhancing energy efficiency policies, many open questions remain, particularly relating to the extent of some of the key market and behavioral failures.energy efficiency, appliance standards, energy policy, market failures, behavioral failures