Graduation Year
2015
Date of Submission
4-2015
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Environment, Economics, and Politics (EEP)
Reader 1
William Ascher
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2015 Melanie C. Paty
Abstract
This thesis discusses the potential for private investment to fund ambitious renewable energy research and development to help mitigate climate change. I begin by discussing the threat of global warming and a brief history of renewable energy development in the United States. Next, I discuss existing avenues for private investment in renewable energy, potential methods of increasing corporate participation, and the belief that businesses must maximize only financial profits. Then I perform an in-depth case study of pension funds that have incorporated a social or environmental mission, existing environmentally focused mutual funds, and liquidated clean energy mutual funds. Finally, I compare the historical performance of the existing mutual funds to the liquidated to determine a profit threshold below which clean energy focused funds fail and discuss optimal investment strategies to foster bold renewable energy investment.
Recommended Citation
Paty, Melanie C., "Promoting Bold Investment in Renewable Energy Research and Development" (2015). CMC Senior Theses. 1208.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1208
Included in
Energy Policy Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Finance Commons
