ENERGY--UNCERTAINTY AND REALITY

While national energy needs are evident and measures to meet these needs are apparent, the achievement of realistic objectives is clouded by uncertainties. The United States' dependence on foreign oil has continued to increase, and the country has no coherent national energy policy. By their very nature, energy solutions will be politically unpopular, since the public will not be enthusiastic about paying higher prices and changing energy use patterns. Required energy-related actions include conservation, a shift in energy use away from oil and natural gas, a shift in energy use toward more abundant fuels (coal, nuclear power, and electricity), and electric vehicle technology. Time is required to change energy use patterns and for continuing research and development into alternative fuel sources (oil shale and tar sand processing, solar and geothermal energy, wind power, photovoltaic generation, magnetohydrodynamics and fuel cells, and ocean thermal currents). Market forces must be allowed to work in order to provide incentives and allocate resources if a climate in which energy conservation prevails is to be established. Economic, environmental, and siting uncertainties must be minimized. Because constructive action is needed, individuals knowledgeable in energy matters must become involved in the public and political decisionmaking process.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Mississippi Valley Section Meeting, Moline, Illinois, 26 January 1978.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Stanley, R H
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Pagination: 8 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Decision making; Development; Economics; Energy; Energy conservation; Policy; Research
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Policy; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399032
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 780865, HS-025 600U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1985 12:00AM