Edison Electric Institute

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Edison Electric Institute

Part A

The company supports the transition of energy consumption from the current use of coal into the adoption of alternative energy sources that cause little or no pollution. The reduction of carbon emission is a global phenomenon that stakeholders have adopted in order to lower the rate of pollution. Edison Electric Institute is an umbrella organization that represents all electric companies owned by investors hence has a stake in the future of energy independence as championed by the government and environmental groups. It however opposes the distribution ofrooftop solar energy in the utilities sector (Meier 58). According to EEI, such a circumstance would be unfair to the current rate payers hence would like to squash the present solar market in favor of its monopoly of the traditional electricity generation mechanisms it controls. A majority of the citizens however do not support the reliance of coal thereby voicing their concerns on the need to achieve energy independence through integration of renewable energy sources.

Part B

EEI is a multinational company that has subsidiaries in over 70 countries. Its commitment to a pollution-free environment is underscored by the firm’s desire to contribute to the renewable energy debate. It is however passionate about the need to reduce individual ownership of solar-driven devices as that would destabilize its market share of electric machines. The corporation desires that consumers increase their usage of plug-in tools rather than rely on renewable energy sources such as solar. EEI is also involved in the realization of environmental and economic security of the US through the adoption of sustainable energy sources. It is however opposed to the consumption of electricity using solar power due to the massive investment it has in the electric generation industry. The monopoly it controls would be hampered by the acquisition of individual solar-powered machines hence the rush to limit its implementation. Whereas a majority of citizens and rights groups envision a scenario in which the US is self-reliant on energy, the prevailing circumstances based on the special interest groups strongly oppose the integration of individual solar-powered utilities in most of the states.  Such an occurrence helps EEI achieve its target of selling electric machines to as many people as possible.

Part C

The passage of the A.C.E.S Act in 2009 marked the first time that Congress has embarked on curbing carbon emissions in the United States although this shift has minimal impact on the political climate surrounding the climate change issue. Democrats are open to the adoption of stricter rules to limit the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere while Republicans are hesitant on the seriousness of this threat. In the current House of Representatives, the latter have a majority hence the slow uptake of renewable energy sources is bound to benefit EEI as it would ensure that the company regains its profitability by selling most of its components (Hundt 29). It is thus evident that Congress has low goodwill to implement this policy since effective legislation has stalled thereby favoring EEI’s vision of ensuring that households continue to use electric machines. It is thus advantageous to EEI to have the support of such legislators as it would ensure that their profitability levels are maintained especially in lucrative markets domestically and internationally.In such instances, the level of lobbying is higher as the shareholders of the firm are interested with the returns on their investments.

Part D

EEI is reliant on public officials with a minimalistic view of the climate change debate hence the support of the Republican Partyis vital in attaining this goal. Political Action Committees have thus become integral in advancing such agendas since they offer protection on behalf of their members. According to various studies, Republicans aim at minimal government interference as well as the issuance of low taxes. Democrats believe in an opposing policy in which climate change is a big issue. As such, coincidentally, Republicans have most of their strongest support base in areas dominated by coal production as well as companies under the EEI umbrella. In line with this development, PowerPAC is the political entity that supports EEI activities and its public policies (Leggett 47). Its designation hinges on the energy industry and it already has various lobbyists within the socioeconomic spectrum whose sole mission is to reduce the rate of solar uptake for private citizens within the US. The group has already raised $231, 640 towards the 2016 campaign especially on Republican candidates willing to stick to the conservative ideals that promote the use of electric devices. In providing electoral support to this cause, the corporation aims to advance its agenda since the candidates would be friendly towards their concerns. Such funding buys the loyalty of the political class thereby ensuring that the legislations passed in Congress are favorable to the wishes of this multinational. It is therefore evident that the numerical strength of the conservative members would be useful in securing laws that limit the installation of individual solar panels across the nation while facilitating the use of electric machines.

Works Cited

Hundt, Reed E. Zero Hour: Time to Build the Clean Power Platform. 2013. Print.

Leggett, Jeremy K. The Carbon War: Global Warming and the End of the Oil Era. New York: Routledge, 2001. Print

Meier, Alexandra . Electric Power Systems: A Conceptual Introduction. Hoboken, N.J: IEEE Press, 2006. Print.