Holt, Lynne; Galligan, Mary --- "EU energy efficiency regulation and governance: Lessons for the US?" [2014] ELECD 264; in Talus, Kim (ed), "Research Handbook on International Energy Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014) 440

Book Title: Research Handbook on International Energy Law

Editor(s): Talus, Kim

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781002193

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: EU energy efficiency regulation and governance: Lessons for the US?

Author(s): Holt, Lynne; Galligan, Mary

Number of pages: 33

Abstract/Description:

The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) have taken different approaches toward energy regulation and governance. The differing approaches are illustrated in their policies on energy efficiency. This chapter compares the two approaches and attempts to explore the question of what lessons the US may glean from the EU's experiences in developing and implementing energy efficiency policies in the area of electricity generation and use. A larger question posed in this chapter is whether an initiative dependent upon the melding actions of separate jurisdictions to meet a collective goal can effectively address an issue as complex as energy efficiency: localized interest in promoting energy efficiency may be in certain cases a lower priority or may even be in conflict with broader, collective federal interests. Conversely, national or international policies may thwart productive localized policies. Finally, this chapter poses several questions for further exploration and research into lessons learned by the EU that might be instructive to the US.