Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) - Alternative Energy - ProCon.org

UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) Biography
Position:	Not Clearly Pro or Con to the question "Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?"
Reasoning:	“A lot of efforts have been made to make renewable energy more competitive…Investors are looking for alternatives that are economically competitive. Standalone economic viability depends on factors such as the pace of technical advance, competitive economics and the pricing or shadow pricing of carbon. Remember, after 30 years of hard work, Brazilian ethanol has become competitive without subsidies… In the analysis for ‘Crossing the Divide’, our study on clean energy, we found that for the most part, alternative energy is priced above conventional energy. In other words, its growth still depends upon supportive government policies… We…found that wind stands out as the most competitive. There has been a lot of advance in wind technology over the past two decades and in some locations, wind, along with biomass and geothermal, are competitive without subsidies.” "Wind Stands Out," www.cera.com, Aug. 7, 2007
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:	Organizations/VIPs/Others Individuals and organizations that do not fit into the other star categories.
Description:	"Cambridge Energy Research Associates®, Inc. (CERA®), an IHS company, is a leading advisor to international energy companies, governments, financial institutions, and technology providers... CERA's team of experts is headed by Daniel Yergin (view bio), Chairman and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. Dr. Yergin is also coauthor of the critically acclaimed book The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, which was produced as a three-part series for PBS. CERA has over 200 staff worldwide, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Beijing; Calgary; Mexico City; Moscow; Paris; Rio de Janeiro; San Francisco; and Washington, DC." "About CERA," www.cera.com (accessed Oct. 28, 2008)
Mission:	"CERA delivers critical knowledge and independent analysis on energy markets, geopolitics, industry trends, and strategy. Our services help decision makers anticipate the energy future and formulate timely, successful plans in the face of rapid changes and uncertainty. CERA is valued for our independence, fundamental research, foresight, and original thinking. Our unique integrated framework enables us to offer new insights ahead of conventional wisdom, providing a comprehensive 'early warning system' that has a direct impact on investment, decision making, and performance." "About CERA," www.cera.com (accessed Oct. 28, 2008)
Structure:	International energy research and consulting corporation
Members/Constituents:	Not membership based
Annual Budget:	None found
Sr. Executive:	Daniel Yergin, Chairman
# of Offices:	Nine (Headquarters, Cambridge, MA)
# of Staff:	200+
Relevant Affiliations:	IHS
Contact Info:	Phone: 617-866-5000 (Cambridge Office) Fax: 617-866-5900 (Cambridge Office) Email: [email protected] Website: www.cera.com
Quoted in:	1. Is Global Oil Production at (or past) Its Peak?