The demand for electricity to have a strong, growing economy is too great to be simply offset by more conservation.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
There is growing demand for renewable energy.
The more that energy costs, the less economic activity there can be.
When you increase the cost of energy, jobs go elsewhere.
As the economy grows, so will the demand for energy.
And we have abundant natural energy resources in the country. We haven't been taking adequate advantage of them, and we can burn coal in a clean way; we could improve the grid.
Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy.
Why? Because we're very well down this process as it is - flawed as it is - and we're counting on getting more power plants on line by the end of 2003 so we have a surplus of power.
There is an urgent need to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, dramatically reduce wasted energy, and significantly shift our power supplies from oil, coal, and natural gas to wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy sources.
We can, and must, shift to an economy in which 100% of our electricity is generated renewably.
The more energy-efficient we become as a nation, the less we need to develop additional energy sources.