Energy Technology Progress for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Energy security is a fundamental part of a country’s national security. Access to affordable, environmentally sustainable energy is a stabilizing force and is in the world community’s best interest. The current global energy situation however is not sustainable and has many complicating factors. The primary goal for government energy policy should be to provide stability and predictability to the market. This paper differentiates between short-term and long-term issues and argues that although the options for addressing the short-term issues are limited, there is an opportunity to alter the course of long-term energy stability and predictability through research and technology development. While reliance on foreign oil in the short term can be consistent with short-term energy security goals, there are sufficient long-term issues associated with fossil fuel use, in particular, as to require a long-term role for the federal government in funding research. The longer term issues fall into three categories. First, oil resources are finite and there is increasing world dependence on a limited number of suppliers. Second, the world demographics are changing dramatically and the emerging industrialized nations will have greater supply needs. Third, increasing attention to the environmental impacts of energy production and use will limit supply options. In addition to this global view, some of the changes occurring in the U.S. domestic energy picture have implications that will encourage energy efficiency and new technology development. The paper concludes that technological innovation has provided great benefit in the past and can continue to do so in the future if it is both channeled toward a sustainable energy future and if it is committed to, and invested in, as a deliberate long-term policy option.