John v Scanlan

3 August 2003

1. Energy “sources” are different from energy “resources” in that a resource is replenishable. Wind, solar, thermal, wave,etc. are replenishable sources of energy. Oil and gas are not replenishable and thus merely “sources.”10 pages

Memorandum

From:John ScanlanRe:Five year energy plan for the United States“Energy” is commonly used as a homogenous term to refer to all energy sources

andtransmission forms. Unfortunately, most energy planing is based on this idea that energy is ahomogenous lump. Hydrogen is frequently touted as a miracle fuel for automobiles. However,more fossil fuel is required to produce hydrogen from water than the hydrogen can provide to avehicle. Currently we use a great deal of natural gas to power electrical plants. We need to ask ourselves: When supplies of natural gas are limited, should we be using this highly portable andexplosive fuel to make electricity to power lighting and appliances which need no portability and noexplosive force? Shouldn’t wind, solar, thermal, wave, etc. power be used to make electricity andhydrogen instead of limited sources like oil and gas?

The Plan

There are several preliminary factors to a national energy plan; (1) The duration of the plan; (2)The goals of the plan; (3) The definition of “energy” for the purposes of this plan; and (4) The breadth of the plan.

John v Scanlan

3 August 2003

page 2 of 10

Unlike the short-term energy plans with which the government is content, we need to plan for thelong-term. Because fossil fuels are limited, although not severely, and technological innovation is a slow process, we need to plan for a period after fossil fuels have been largely depleted. The 1995 NationalEnergy Policy Act,

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, and the 1998 Department of Energy Strategic Plan,

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, are both shortsighted. Neither, except for vague statements aboutdesiring alternative energy sources, looks far enough into the future. Therefore, rather than the five to tenyear plans that we have had in the past, we need a one-hundred year plan.Our plan needs to provide energy sufficient to meet both energy use and peak demand. Our energy policy needs to meet the goals of “sustainable development,” to meet the “developmental andenvironmental needs of present and future generations.” Rio Declaration, Princ. 3. Finally, our energy policy needs to be in cooperation with the international community.In formulating this policy, we will not make a distinction between forms of energy. We will,however, differentiate the different uses of energy. For example, because electricity exists in nature only inlightning, electricity will be treated as a method of using energy rather than a fuel.This plan needs to be broad. Every part of the energy life cycle effects all of our goals. Therefore,the plan needs to incorporate the entire life cycle of energy, from exploration to waste disposal.

Factors to Consider

First, we need to differentiate the different uses of energy. The attached Figure 1 shows typicaluses of energy along with the primary features of their uses. Each use has three primary features: (1)Portability, the need to transport energy; (2) Power, the instantaneous burst of energy required; and (3)Heat, the temperature needed. For example, energy must be transported with an automobile, a space-shuttle requires a tremendous burst of energy, and a Bessemer furnace requires temperatures in excess of 3,000 degrees F.

John v Scanlan

3 August 2003

2. Electricity must be transported by either a hard connection or by storage batteries.3. Rather than the “personal virtue” of turning off the lights and driving less, as Dick Cheney used the word with tongue incheek, conservation refers to finding better ways to use energy.4. Shifting electrical use away from peak air conditioning time to nighttime.5. A fascinating trend is to plant grass, bushes, and trees on the roofs of downtown buildings. The flora eats greenhousegases and is wonderful insulation.6. For example: The code requirement for efficient “T-8" lamps in flourescent lighting.page 3 of 10

Certain energy sources are superior to others for specific uses.

See

Figure 2. Liquid fuels aresuperior for portability while electricity, has poor portability.

Fossil fuels are superior at creating heat.Electric elements could not produce the extremely high temperatures required for a Bessemer furnace. Our National Energy Policy must balance different uses with sources.

Recommendations

ONSERVATION

Irrespective of recent remarks by the Government suggesting the energy conservation is a dead end,conservation will be critical to meeting demand.

Buildings are critical to energy conservation. First, to reduce peak demand, we need to continueour efforts at electrical load shifting.

To reduce energy use, we need to continue our efforts to developefficient lighting, appliances, etc.

The use of the building codes have been and will continue to be usefulin reducing electrical use.