60 Minutes of Deliberation- Climate Edition

Question for Deliberation Should the U.S. promote the use of

renewable power in the form of tax breaks?

Instructionso Read Material (10 minutes)o Form group of 5 o Develop Arguments in support of tax breaks for

renewable energy AND against tax breaks for

renewable energy (20 minutes)o Then place your arguments on the line based on

whether you think the argument is strong or weak

(try to develop both strong and weak arguments)

Strong Argument

Weak Argument

o What makes an argument weak or strong?o What are your arguments based on? Values or

facts?o How might someone that agrees that their

should be tax breaks for renewable energy respond to the opposing arguments?

o How might someone that is opposed to tax breaks for renewable energy respond to the arguments in favor?

o Which arguments do you think are misplaced on this line?

Whole Group Discussion

How high a priority should this issue be for policy

makers?Crisis Urgent High Need Moderate Low

PriorityUnnecessary

Fishbowl Discussion

When you were developing arguments which did you think would be the most powerful? Did they end up being powerful arguments in the fishbowl?

What new arguments emerged that you found made you look at the issue in a new light?

What information would/will you seek out as you continue to reflect on this issue?

Reflection

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/making-renewable-energies-competitive/

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2014/06/26/why-the-shift-to-alternate-energies-continues-despite-shale-boom/

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/barriers-to-renewable-energy.html#.WLiGOBIrKCQ

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/renewable-energy-80-percent-us-electricity.html#.WLiIMxIrKCQ

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2012/04/25/the-surprising-reason-that-oil-subsidies-persist-even-liberals-love-them/#5e0bc5732792

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/upshot/do-oil-companies-really-need-4-billion-per-year-of-taxpayers-money.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drillinginfo/2016/03/28/the-case-for-free-market-energy-removing-energy-subsidies-and-price-controls-improves-market/2/#33d3b5ef770b

http://www.imf.org/external/np/fad/subsidies/

Reading Materials Sources