The interaction of energy, population and sustainable development

Conference · Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:163301

Mills, J I; Herring, J S ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

The relationships among, energy, population growth, and sustainable economic development will be of critical importance during the next half century. In previous papers, the authors have modeled the interactions among energy, population and economic development. These studies have shown that the increased availability of economic alternatives, improved health conditions, and sustainable energy supplies have a direct interaction with the rate of population growth. Conversely, their studies and others have shown that poverty, poor health conditions, and the lack of economic alternatives contribute to a vicious cycle in which rapid population growth continues, poverty prevails, and health conditions deteriorate further. Reducing population growth to a sustainable steady state value is, in part, a product of the improved health and living conditions brought on by a well-considered industrialization. Improving the availability and reliability of the electric supply is an integral part of that industrialization. Free trade zones surrounding major ports are becoming a major vehicle for development and gateways to the global economy. By providing the needed electricity to power these enterprise zones, US technology could furnish a vital link in development. Many current projects for providing power to preindustrial countries involve the construction of large, centralized projects. The construction of conventional fossil and nuclear plants requires that the developing countries first develop an infrastructure for both the construction and operation of such plants. Both hydro and steam plants require significant capital investment, either by the host country or by outside development agencies, before the first kilowatt-hour is delivered.

• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 163301
• Report Number(s): CONF-950729-; TRN: IM9604%%406
• Resource Relation: Conference: 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL (United States), 30 Jul - 5 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 2; Goswami, D.Y. [ed.] [Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)]; Kannberg, L.D.; Somasundaram, S. [eds.] [Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)]; Mancini, T.R. [ed.] [Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)]; PB: 658 p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING AND POLICY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION DYNAMICS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
CORRELATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
REMOTE AREAS
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
CAPITALIZED COST
GREENHOUSE GASES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENERGY POLICY
DEMOGRAPHY
GLOBAL ASPECTS