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Rethinking the scale, structure & scope of U.S. energy institutions

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:27 authored by Michael H Dworkin, Roman V Sidortsov, Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool
This essay notes some of the key institutions created in the twentieth century for the purpose of delivering energy in North America. Those institutions are being challenged by a combination of stresses in three interconnected areas: reliability, economics, and environmental sustainability. The essay argues that these three stresses create an “energy trilemma” requiring institutional reform. We suggest that new and modi½ed institutions can best be understood if we evaluate them along three dimensions: institutional scale, structure, and scope. We consider real-world examples of recent institutions in light of each of these dimensions and note both successes and concerns that those factors illuminate. We conclude by noting that some institutional changes will be organic and unplanned; but many others, including responses to climate change, will bene½t from conscious attention to scale, structure, and scope by those engaged in designing and building the energy institutions needed in the twenty-½rst century.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Daedalus

ISSN

0011-5266

Publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press)

Issue

1

Volume

142

Page range

129-145

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-01-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-01-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-01-19

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