Is There an Energy Crisis? An Overview

This country is not yet involved in an energy crisis of paralyzing proportions; nor is such a crisis inevitable. Yet, we have been drifting into "crisis country," and shortages will worsen if the nation does not face the fact that its energy budget is very much out of balance. Our national energy policies—inherited from an era of carefree abundance—call for promotion, growth and lavish use of energy. These policies are outmoded. In simple terms, our predicament today is that we are making less, but using more, energy. In order to avoid an energy breakdown, we must face disagreeable facts, abandon old habits and make the difficult choices in volved in shaping new policies. To make overall sense, energy decisions should be measured against some basic social goals upon which most of us can agree: (1) adequate supplies; (2) protecting the environment; (3) keeping prices reasonable; and (4) avoiding foreign policy problems. While imported oil can serve as a stopgap solution for our immediate energy problems, we cannot expect to continue raising the scale of our imports to match spendthrift demands indefi nitely. In the long run, the course which will best serve the important goals of energy policy is one that will attack the waste in our energy consumption and slow down growth. At the same time, it is essential that we mount the urgently needed effort for research and development of new, cleaner and more abundant energy sources.