Full Title: Hard Choices Ahead for U.S. Energy Policy
Author(s): Elias Hinckley
Publisher(s): Natural Gas & Electricity
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
On July 18, 2010, the Wall Street Journal ran a story about China’s primary energy use surpassing that of the United States—signaling the end of the US status as either the largest consumer or supplier of energy. While not without influence, the United States can no longer be counted on to maintain low, stable prices without resorting to either outside support or military intervention. Importantly, this is not simply a question of the market fundamentals of fossil fuels. Efforts to manage costs through efficiency and new energy sources along with efforts to control emissions and climate change are driving what is perhaps the fastest evolution of energy technology ever. Globalization has spread technology development and ownership. Failure to move to the forefront of technological development or otherwise control a significant share of these new technologies will further impair the influence of the United States over global energy.