By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Apr. 10 -- California's electricity problems could become commonplace unless the US government develops a long-term, comprehensive energy policy immediately, said an independent task force. But forming that policy will involve some hard choices.
"When it comes to energy, the American people cannot achieve both a painless present and a secure future," said a report sponsored by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Houston, and the Council on Foreign Relations. The task force included 51 specialists in various fields, including operating companies, consulting companies, and economists.
The report said the administration of President George W. Bush has an opportunity to educate the public about this reality and to start building a broad base of popular support for the hard policy choices. "If the current administration tells it like it is � the US would be taking the first step in years toward achieving a much-needed national energy policy."
The US faces the consequences of not having had an energy policy over the last few decades. The nation's current and predictable future California-style electricity problems and shortages of fuels stem from chronic underinvestment and soaring energy use, said the task force.
The group warns, "What lies ahead now are agonizing policy tradeoffs between legitimate and competing interests." It said one of the tradeoffs is, "Whether Americans are willing to compromise their hunger for cheap energy to achieve their increasing demand for cleaner energy and a cleaner environment?"
The task force said any viable policy will have to cope with often conflicting foreign policy issues: US policy toward the Middle East; the former Soviet Union, and China; the fight against international terrorism; environmental policy; international trade policy, including the US position on the European Union energy charter; the North American Free Trade Agreement; and foreign aid and credits.