Energy & the Environment

The Story of an Addict

Energy & Environmental Politics• Energy consumption is a primary

source of pollution• Energy production is a primary

source of habitat destruction• Patterns of Energy Consumption &

Production• Economic Implications

• Stability of supply & price• Industry sensitivities• Regional/geographic sensitivities

Clash of Values

• Unfettered economic growth v environmental regulation

• Pollution control v. pollution avoidance

• Conservation v supply• land use values: economic

exploitation v preservation• government v market• liberty v government social

regulation

Consumption & Production Patterns

How Do We Use Energy?

• Residential/Commercial = 35%• Industrial = 37%• Transportation = 28%

U.S. Domestic Energy Consumption by Source

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1950

1954

1958

1962

1966

1970

1974

1978

1982

1986

1990

1994

1998

Qua

drill

ion

BTUs

SolarBiofuelsGeothermalHydroelectricNuclearCoalNatural gasPetroleum

Comparative Consumption per Capita (1997)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

mil

lio

n B

tu/p

op

France

GermanyJapanSwitzerland

UKUS

Comparative Consumption per GDP(1997)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

10

00

Btu

s/$

GD

P

France

GermanyJapanSwitzerland

UKUS

What do we Pay for Energy?

What Difference Does it Make?

Comparison of Fuel Prices per Gallon ($1999)

1.954.09Korea43.652.893.65Japan39.814.775.13UK40.482.903.78Germany

1.361.92Mexico36.671.682.04Canada36.331.361.47US

IndustrialHeavy Oil

DieselGasoline

Sources of Electricity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% G

en

era

tio

n

Coal

Oil

Gas

Nuclear

Hydro

Price of Electricity(constant $)

0123456789

10

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

Cen

ts p

er K

Wh

Impact of Cheap Energy

• wasteful use of energy resources• ignoring conservation & energy

efficiency• Increases pollution

• blocks entry of alternative, non-fossil fuel

• decreases US production (where extraction costs are high)• increase is dependence on foreign

suppliers

Pollution Impact

Particulate Emissionsby Energy Source

0

100

200

300

400

500

Electrical Utilities Industrial ResidentialOther Motor Vehicles Off Highway Vehicles

SO2 Emissionsby Energy Source

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,00010,000

12,000

14,000

Electrical Utilities Industrial ResidentialOther Motor Vehicles Off Highway Vehicles

NOx Emissionsby Energy Source

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Electrical Utilities Industrial ResidentialOther Motor Vehicles Off Highway Vehicles

VOC Emissionsby Energy Source

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Electrical Utilities Industrial ResidentialOther Motor Vehicles Off Highway Vehicles

CO Emissionsby Energy Source

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Electrical Utilities Industrial ResidentialOther Motor Vehicles Off Highway Vehicles

Coal

• Extraction• Habitat

destruction• Spoils• acid leaching• landscape

leveling• hydrological

disruption

• Processing & Use• Air Pollution• Water pollution• Climate Change

Oil & Gas

• Extraction• Habitat

destruction• drilling

structures, pipelines, & access roads

• Processing & Use• Air Pollutants• Water Pollution• Climate Change• Oil Spills

Nuclear

• Extraction• Habitat

destruction• Spoils

• radioactive

• Processing & Use• radioactive

waste• radiation• thermal pollution

Hydro Power

• Extraction• Habitat

destruction• Water Pollution

• Processing & Use• Habitat/ecologic

al destruction• hydrologic

disruption • Landscape

change

Wind

• Extraction• Habitat

destruction• Water Pollution

• Processing & Use• Habitat/ecologic

al destruction• Wildlife kills

Autos

US Vehicles Milesper capita

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Year

Veh

icle

Mile

s per

Cap

ita

Auto Fuel Efficiency

0

5

10

15

20

25

19701975

19801985

19901995

20002005

Mile

s pe

r Gal

lon

CarsLight Trucks

Environmental Impact of Cars & Trucks• Air Pollution

• 20% Greenhouse Gases• 1 mpg increase in efficiency

• 6400 pound reduction in GHG • $300 increase in car cost for fuel

− USPIRG Report

• soil & water pollution from fueling stations, lubricants, etc.

Environmental Impact of Cars & Trucks• Fossil fuel demand

• 10 mpg increase in fuel efficiency 7 bb oil reduction over ten years

• ANWR = ~ 7-14 bb oil• 10 mpg increase in fuel efficiency 380

million ton annual decrease in CO2 emissions

• ~ 7 % of US total• Roadways (> 6 million miles)

• Use up land• Fragment landscape

Energy Resource Politics

U.S. Oil Fields

U.S. Coal Mines

U.S. Nuclear Fuel Storage