Energy Realities for the Third Millennium

Abstract

Complexity, controversy, and timidity continue to rule considerations of energy policy for the United States. This combination of impediments has guaranteed the continuing absence of a rational and comprehensive policy reconciling energy, environmental, economic, and security issues. A pragmatic set of energy milestones for America to achieve by the end of the first quarter of the next century can be easily defined: • The last coal-fired power plant and the first environmentally benign fusion power plant would have been built. • The first commercial assembly plant for hydrogen-fueled automobiles would have reached full production along with the creation of the necessary hydrogen fuel infrastructure throughout the country. • Clean, safe, and efficient transportation systems would have fully replaced the automobile in the core areas of the ten largest cities. • The first total conversion of a southwestern suburb to solar heating and cooling, solar electric house power, and solar electric cars would have been completed.