Building a consensus about energy technologies

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6046438

Wilbanks, T J

Our difficulty in the United States in making and sustaining major energy policy decisions is considered. After reviewing this decision-making problem, this report outlines the major policy alternatives for making energy decision making more effective. To bound the territory, the focus is on relatively large decisions about energy technologies, but many of the ideas are applicable to other kinds of energy decisions as well. In general, the policy alternatives can be characterized as being either focused on technology or on social action. Technology-focused options include technology choices and improvements. Social action-focused options include information, incentives, legitimacy, and institutional changes. These options are so diverse and so complexly related to each other that it is hard to assess the individual contribution of any one of them. But it is clear that they pose several basic philosophical questions, such as whether to base decisions on strong central leadership or on broad consensus formation. And it is clear that the options vary in being best suited for business-as-usual situations or emergency decision-making situations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6046438
• Report Number(s): ORNL-5784; ON: DE82000501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
DECISION MAKING
DEMAND
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SUPPLIES
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INFORMATION
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LEGAL INCENTIVES
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NORTH AMERICA
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOCIOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
USA