Energy Industry, 2006
Abstract
America's energy supply portfolio is influenced by a complicated blend of economics, national security, and diplomacy that transcend our borders. The rapid globalization of markets, shifting political alliances and increasingly intertwined layers of dependency, make even the most reasonable public policy decisions concerning energy subject to intense domestic and international scrutiny and perhaps unintended repercussions. The energy industry is in the midst of unprecedented geopolitical and economic uncertainty that requires a broad understanding of individual sectors in order to make coherent national security decisions. The fragility of the electrical grid, the increasing reliance on imported oil in order to sustain our transportation infrastructure, and the call for alternative and renewable energy sources to reduce oil dependency and reduce global greenhouse emissions, are examples of issues that cannot be solved in isolation. As a result, the 2006 ICAF Energy Industry Study seminar assessed domestic and international energy security by addressing five main themes: security, regulation, diversity of supply, efficiency/conservation, and leadership/public education. The seminar traveled to energy manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, researchers, educators, and regulators in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the greater San Francisco valley, and throughout Australia in order to obtain candid industry, academic and governmental assessments of major energy sectors. This report reviews the Energy Industry Study Study's research findings, and provides recommendations for policy makers to consider when prioritizing programs and funding for research, development, and infrastructure support vital to America's energy security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA475301
Entities
Organizations
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy