PRESENT AND NEAR-FUTURE DEMAND FOR ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES

The hazards of forecasting and the limitations for analysis are discussed. Historical trends in energy consumption, the correlation between energy consumption and economic welfare, and a driving force for change based on convenience, technological versatility, and economics are discussed in a section prior to energy demand projections. At BNL, 25 to 30 consuming scenarios have been projected in the following sectors: residential, commercial, industry, electric generation, and transportation. An example is followed involving residential space heating for 3 fuel types. The final section of the paper examines the impact of price increases and conservation. It is concluded that if adequate supplies of energy are not available at tolerable prices, consumption levels will adjust to balance demand against supply. It is critical to the economic future that this balancing process be achieved in an organized and rational manner, rather than blundering into a situation where the forces of fuel economics solves the problem. The author is not confident that Congress and the Federal Agencies can be counted on to provide the organized and rational balancing of the energy budget. (ERA citation 02:000876)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Environmental Nuclear Impact, Itasca, Illinois, 8 Apr 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  Brookhaven National Laboratory

  Associated Universities, Incorporated
  Upton, NY  United States  11973

  Energy Research and Development Administration

  20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sailor, V L
• Publication Date: 1976-4-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand; Electric power generation; Energy; Energy consumption; Energy resources; Equipment; Forecasting; Mathematical models; Systems analysis
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy demand; Energy models; Net energy
• Subject Areas: Energy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00150516
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-760479-1
• Contract Numbers: E(30-1)-16
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 30 1977 12:00AM