National energy act

Kurt Hohenemser

Environment; (United States) · 1979 · 10 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

Professor Hohenemser states, in effect, that the 1978 National Energy Act has expanded the bureaucracy without reducing fossil-fuel imports or domestic consumption. While modest gains have been made in automobile and industrial process efficiency as a result of government regulations, substantial improvement took place in the airline industry when higher fuel costs brought voluntary action. Portions of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act are examined and found to be counterproductive. Title II, for example, requires utilities to take the initiative in home-conservation activities that will decrease their business and cause rates to go up. Professor Hohenemser feels the Act will generate a great deal of paper work and will probably have little effect. Gas-allocation planning based on numbers of cars rather than potential drivers is seen as discriminatory when compared with a combination of rationing and the option to buy additional fuel at premium prices.