Energy policy interactions in the United States

Abstract

The formulation of a US energy policy which is consistent with other national policies in the economic, environmental, R&D, and national security areas is a difficult, but necessary, process. Heavily-funded development of the plutonium breeder reactor exemplifies the type of policy inconsistencies pervading the present embryonic energy policy. In this article Dr Smernoff presents a reasonably consistent long-run energy policy in which nuclear fission plays a minor role, clean-burning fossil fuels are decreasing in importance, and geothermal/solar energy sources are becoming dominant in an increasingly post-industrial society.