Our Nation's march to the sea. [Lack of energy policy 3 years after oil embargo]
Three years after the Arab oil embargo the U.S. continues to talk about an energy policy without doing much to alter its course toward national catastrophe. During the first half of 1976, the U.S. consumed an average of 16.9 million barrels of oil per day, increasing its dependence on foreign oil from 37 to 41 percent of all petroleum needs. Imported oil will supply 20 percent of all energy needs by the end of 1976. Coal will provide only 19 percent of the total energy needs, even though it is the nation's most abundant domestic energy resource. Coal must be heavily relied upon, but Congress has not passed one major piece of legislation that would expedite coal development or remove uncertainties to its production and use. Coal use has increased since 1973, but the industry has been forced to fight legislation that would restrict its production and development. The business of the nation's coal and utility industry must be planned carefully, the author says. Uncertainty leads to deferrals to invest capital and construct the necessary equipment and facilities to mine coal and burn it to generate electricity. The industry is working to overcome the traditional management problems associated with major expansions in coal production, but the major obstacles are political. An energy policy must be nonpartisan, the author concludes, and it is the hope of the National Coal Association that Congress undertakes the development of an energy policy in 1977 to turn the nation's ''march to the sea'' into a new march for independence. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- National Coal Association
- OSTI ID:
- 7259984
- Journal Information:
- Public Util. Fortn.; (United States), Vol. 98:7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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