Energy Industry Study, AY 2004-2005

Energy is one of the most important sectors of the U.S. national economy, and reliable energy resources are critical to the national security of the United States. The USG should create market incentives to encourage investment, development, and deployment of a broad portfolio of renewable alternative energy supplies and enhanced conservation measures to reduce the rapid growth rate of U.S. reliance on imported energy and reduce the environmental consequences as U.S. energy usage increases. Federal efforts should supplement market incentives to help determine the most efficient portfolio from among such technologies as clean coal, solar, wind, hydrogen, deep earth, nuclear, and other technologies. In addition, the USG should develop regulatory mechanisms to increase reliability, security, and environmental standards to minimize the potential impacts of natural disasters, terrorism, or economic disruption while using market incentives to control cost growth.