Because it’s still the first week of January, I can still talk about the newness that the year brings and what changes will become of it, especially in the environmental sphere.

So, here are two totally new, totally awesome steps in the right direction. The first: the new Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR).  A cross between the Department of Energy and the State D department, this new agency has three core principles and objectives:

1. To Ensure Energy Diplomacy. According to Ambassador Carlos Pascual “We’re trying to give comparable attention to geopolitics and fossil fuels, alternative technology and energy access.”

2. Energy Transformation. This means making a market for sustainable and alternative energy. For example, the agency will work with China to figure out how to make shale gas growth be environmentally sound.

3. To Improve Energy Transparency and Access. This is super important because it will align governments, oil companies and alternative energy sources in their efforts to maintain a focus on diversifying energy sources.

For more info on the Bureau of Energy Resources, check out their official government page and this Fast Company article that gives a great snapshot on what they hope to accomplish.

Alright, got that? Now on to the next great energy innovation to look forward to in 2012. The insanely smart people over at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recently released a report entitled Unlocking Energy Innovation, which lays out a forty-year framework for totally decarbonizing the United States’ energy system. Wow, forty years is a long time from now!

The report breaks it down into three “waves” of innovation. The first wave, which is now through 2020 is to focus on energy efficiency, especially in cars and buildings, places that are huge energy holes.  The second, which is aimed to happen between 2020 and 2050 is it lower the cost of our known low-carbon energy sources. After this happens, the US will be ready to take on the next wave, which is to introduce new energy technologies for use.

Woah. So where to start? Well, according to the authors, electrifying energy sources is the easiest path to both energy independence and cleaner energy. A greater focus on electric energy will also help to create a competitive market, which will decrease the power of single companies.

So what does this mean for you guys, the youth? Well, it means that there could be a much more robust green job market and a focus on clean technology jobs. Now that’s pretty awesome.

For more info on Unlocking Energy Innovation, check out Fast Company’s article “MIT’s Innovative Plan for the Future of U.S Energy”  and it’s official website.