Energy Policy Analysis: A Conceptual

Presented in nontechnical terms, this book offers a unique and powerful conceptual framework for analysis of energy technologies (standard and alternative) in terms of their respective dollar costs, environmental costs, and national security costs. Energy technologies examined include coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, biomass and biogas, energy conservation and efficiency, ocean power, hydrogen, electric power and transmission, and transportation. This three-point framework allows examination of issues and problems associated with implementation of U.S. energy policies in the context of major social goals (such as growth and equity), with treatment of conflicts and trade-offs between energy development and other social values (such as health and safety, cultural, historical, and aesthetic values). These are the key political issues for policy makers formulating national energy policy and decisions makers implementing it.

Michael S. Hamilton is emeritus professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine, specializing in environmental and natural resources policy and administration.

Preface	p. ix
A Framework for Analysis of Energy Choices	p. 3
Supply Expansion	p. 3
Demand Suppression	p. 5
Cost Analysis	p. 6
Analytical Framework	p. 11
Previous Energy Policy Studies	p. 11
References	p. 13
Coal	p. 16
Coal Exploration	p. 16
Underground Mining	p. 19
Surface Mining	p. 21
Coal Seam Fires	p. 27
Processing Coal	p. 27
Coal Transportation	p. 28
Coal Storage	p. 29
Coal Combustion	p. 30
Regulatory Controls	p. 31
Costs of Coal Utilization	p. 34
Summary of Costs	p. 38
References	p. 38
Nuclear	p. 40
Uranium Exploration	p. 40
Underground Uranium Mining	p. 41
Open Pit Surface Mining	p. 42
In Situ Leaching	p. 42
Mining Hazards	p. 42
Processing Uranium	p. 44
Nuclear Power Generation	p. 48
Reactor Safety	p. 50
Reprocessing Spent Fuel	p. 52
Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities	p. 53
Radioactive Waste Management	p. 54
Nuclear Waste Policy Act	p. 56
Prerequisites for Effective Radioactive Waste Management	p. 58
Repository Closure	p. 59
Disposal vs. Management	p. 60
A Modest Proposal	p. 61
Nuclear Fusion	p. 62
Costs of Uranium Utilization	p. 63
Summary of Costs	p. 70
References	p. 70
Oil and Natural Gas	p. 76
Oil and Natural Gas Exploration	p. 76
Offshore Resources	p. 77
Onshore Resources	p. 82
Tar Sands	p. 87
Oil and Natural Gas Consumption	p. 90
Costs of Utilizing Oil and Natural Gas	p. 90
Summary of Costs	p. 97
References	p. 99
Solar	p. 104
Solar Thermal Technologies	p. 105
Solar Power Plants	p. 106
Solar Photovoltaic Technologies	p. 107
Costs of Using Solar Energy	p. 108
Summary of Costs	p. 115
References	p. 118
Wind	p. 120
Wind Technologies	p. 121
Costs of Utilizing Wind Power	p. 123
Summary of Costs	p. 128
References	p. 129
Geothermal	p. 131
Geothermal Heat Pumps	p. 131
Geothermal Power Plants	p. 133
Costs of Utilizing Geothermal Energy	p. 135
Summary of Costs	p. 142
References	p. 143
Hydroelectricity	p. 145
Large Hydro	p. 145
Small Hydro	p. 146
Micro Hydro	p. 146
Pico Hydro	p. 147
Pumped Storage	p. 148
Costs of Hydropower Utilization	p. 148
Summary of Costs	p. 157
References	p. 158
Biomass	p. 161
Biopower	p. 161
Biofuels	p. 161
Costs of Biomass Utilization	p. 162
Summary of Costs	p. 169
References	p. 171
Conservation and Efficiency	p. 172
Transportation	p. 173
Residential Sector	p. 174
Commercial Sector	p. 175
Industrial Sector	p. 176
Costs of Energy Conservation and Efficiency	p. 177
Summary of Costs	p. 180
References	p. 181
Ocean	p. 183
Tidal Energy Technologies	p. 183
Ocean Wave Energy	p. 185
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion	p. 186
Ocean Current Energy	p. 186
Costs of Ocean Energy Utilization	p. 187
Summary of Costs	p. 189
References	p. 190
Hydrogen	p. 192
The Hydrogen Energy Process	p. 192
Stationary Uses of Hydrogen	p. 201
Fuel Cell Vehicles	p. 202
Costs of Hydrogen Utilization	p. 203
Summary of Costs	p. 206
References	p. 207
Transportation and Electricity Transmission	p. 209
Transportation	p. 209
Transmission	p. 210
Sources of Electricity	p. 210
Costs of Electric Power Utilization	p. 214
Summary of Costs	p. 227
References	p. 228
Conclusion	p. 231
Conservation and Efficiency	p. 233
Geothermal Heat Pumps	p. 234
Beneficial Biomass	p. 235
Hydrogen	p. 236
Solar	p. 236
Feasibility of Renewables	p. 237
Natural Gas	p. 238
Coal	p. 238
Petroleum	p. 239
Nuclear	p. 240
Further Research	p. 240
Observations	p. 241
References	p. 241
Index	p. 243
About the Author	p. 251
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Energy Policy Analysis: A Conceptual Framework: A Conceptual Framework

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