Federal fuels R and D as an arm of energy policy
The basic objective of Federal fossil fuel RD and D - commercialization of new technologies leading to increased use of domestic resources and a reduction of oil imports - has become increasingly elusive. The goal in much of fossil fuel RD and D has been to substitute more costly, environmentally more difficult energy sources for conventional oil and natural gas. The direct benefits often defy conventional economic or social justifications. Rather they are of broad national scope - improved military security and monetary stability, greater freedom to implement foreign policy and trade objectives, etc., not cheaper energy. Various administrative, legislative and regulatory approaches so far have either failed or have poor prospects. This includes loan guarantees, cost, sharing, construction grants, tax credits, favorable regulatory treatment in case of synthetic pipeline gas, and several combinations and permutations of these means to compensate the producer, user and investor for higher costs and risks. It has been next to impossible to have the stockholder, tax payer and consumer or rate payer assume costs or risks on behalf of the national interest which they perceive to be inequitable. Thus, in spite of good R and D and widespread acceptance of the overall goal, little progress has been made. Apparently, the model, the logic and the entire approach have been faulty. The biggest problem is, of course, that synthetic fuels continue to cost about twice as much as their fossil fuel counterparts. As an alternative, I would like to propose a plan for new fossil fuel technology development and commercialization modeled after the legislatively mandated automotive fuel efficiency standards.
- Research Organization:
- Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL
- OSTI ID:
- 5228742
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-790917-P3
- Journal Information:
- Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 24:3; Conference: American Chemical Society national meeting, Washington, DC, USA, 10 Sep 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENERGY POLICY
FOSSIL FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
COMMERCIALIZATION
EVALUATION
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
LEGISLATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
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ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
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294000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Fossil Fuels
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
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295000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
290500 - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
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