Least-cost energy: solving the CO/sub 2/ problem

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5575566

Lovins, A B; Lovins, L H; Krause, F; Bach, W

An energy policy is presented that would solve the CO/sub 2/ problem and eliminate dependence on uneconomical fossil fuels by relying on increased efficiency in the use of other energy sources and the use of renewable resources. Many climatologists assume that there will be a massive and increasing use of fossil fuels because most energy planners say it is necessary. The choice, these planners claim, is between unpredictable climatic shifts, the costs and risks of nuclear power, or energy scarcity and continuing world poverty. In examining this conventional wisdom afresh, the authors find it to be badly out of date. It is not true that prosperity and global equity require ever-increasing use of fossil fuels, say the authors. Newly developed technologies can provide the same energy services more cheaply by wringing more work out of energy sources and by harnessing the renewable energy flow of the sun, wind, water, and biomass wastes. This least-cost energy strategy would make it unnecessary and uneconomic to burn the fossil fuels that threaten the world's climate. Thus, the CO/sub 2/ green-house effect and other problems such as acid rain, strip mining, air pollution, energy-driven inflation and dependence on foreign oil are matters of choice rather than of predestination.

• OSTI ID: 5575566
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
530200* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
COST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
NUCLEAR POWER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
RESOURCES