U.S. Energy Policy
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U.S. energy policy is a matter of ongoing concern. Our society makes use of massive amounts of energy of various types, and the need for energy is growing. Energy policy is tied to a number of other policies, from the economic to foreign affairs. The costs of energy have an impact on every aspect of society, and energy policy relates to foreign affairs in that the dependence of America on foreign energy sources creates a situation whereby the nation can be held hostage to the whims of external powers. In such an atmosphere, more and more concern has been raised that the United States discover a source of renewable energy, something that will not be depleted as will fossil fuels, something that is cleaner and safer for the environment than are fossil fuels, and something that is still economically viable, producing sufficient energy at a cost comparable to the present energy-economic structure. Solar energy has been suggested as such a source because the energy of the sun is, if not infinite, at least consistent, ubiquitous, and infinite in human terms. Solar energy is not yet economically viable for large-scale use, though it does have certain specific energy-efficient uses to which it has been put in hearing homes or powering small engines. Proponents claim that solar energy could be made more powerful and more economically viable with research and development, and they call on the U.S. government to subsidize such research for the long-term benefit of all. What woul
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in the coming years (Maycock and Stirewalt, 1985: 1).
ENERGY POLICY
There are indeed a number of new technologies and improved technologies today that can make use of solar energy and that may provide more efficient energy from solar energy in the future, but it is also clear that more research is required. Asking whether the U.S. government should subsidize energy policy is to ask a question after the fact, since the U.S. government already subsidizes the development of solar energy. We need to examine, perhaps, whether the government should be involved in this kind of subsidy and what we can expect to get out of it over time. Such a question needs to be considered in terms of overall energy policy and energy needs.
Carlsn's (1988) notes how American concerns about energy policy can be traced particularly to the oil crisis of 1973 when gasoline prices abruptly rose after OPEC raised prices and reduced output for a period of time. Prices have never returned to their pre-1973 levels and are not likely to do so. Oil prices quadrupled almost overnight (1). This and other energy crises have had economic and political consequences, including enormous economic losses, higher inflation, higher unemployment, and lower real output i
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Approximate Word count = 2599
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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