Energy outlook: combining the options. [Subsidize solar and conservation to supplement conventional sources]

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Harvard Bus. Rev.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5575591

Stobaugh, R; Yergin, D

Stobaugh and Yergin, who edited and wrote the recent book on the energy problem, Energy Future: Report of the Energy Project at the Harvard Business School (Random House, 1979), advocate a balanced energy program. They say, in effect, that oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power alone will not support our current standard of living, but combining them with conservation and solar energy could do so. Admitting that conservation and solar suffer from little momentum and weak advocacy, they would clarify the handicaps under which these two labor. Since conservation and solar do not now have a fair chance to compete in the market with imported oil and other traditional sources (subsidized by price controls and unrevealed external costs), the authors would use both incentives and sanctions for equilibration purposes, with the emphasis on incentives. They point out that the true costs of imported oil are potentially at least three times its current US market price - which suggests an offsetting subsidy of two-thirds of the implementation cost for conservation and solar. However, they think somewhat lower subsidies - conservation (40 to 50%) and solar (up to 60%) would be adequate. Also, they emphasize that their concern for conservation and solar should not obscure their belief that conventional production must be further encouraged.

• Research Organization: Harvard Univ. Business School, Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 5575591
• Journal Information: Harvard Bus. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Harvard Bus. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 58:1; ISSN HABRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400 -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
292000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR POWER
PETROLEUM
PLANNING
POWER
RECOMMENDATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
SUBSIDIES