Energy: The U.S. Has a National Policy, and It's Working U.S. Does Have a National Energy Policy
In the International hand-wringing over AmericaÛªs still-heavy energy consumption, the United States-frequently is portrayed as an uncaring wastrel. Citing the massive foreign trade deficit, critics bemoan the failure to pass an energy bill as evidence that the U.S. doesn't haveÛÓor wantÛÓan energy policy. If only there were some legislation, they say. it would show signs of real commitment.</br></br>The myth began with Jimmy Carter, who campaigned in 1976 on the charge that the U.S. was the only major industrial nation that didnÛªt have an energy policy. Il wasn't really so then, but Americans accepted the notion almost without question. Now the battle cry has spread to Europe as well. Financial experts are blaming the lack of an energy policy for the decline of the dollar.</br></br>The fact is, however, that despite the absence of any grandiose formal energy program, the United Sidles does have a national energy policyÛÓand the evidence is itÛªs working on a fairly significant scale. The changes began after the Arab oil embargo in the</br></br>Without any major energy law to require it, Americans already are well on the way toward accomplishing some of the major goals of the Carter energy proposalÛÓfrom converting industry to coal-fired power plants to cutting back automobile fuel consumption to insulating homes and factories. Indeed, the progress has been quite startling, even to many critics.</br></br>Moreover, apart from the nebulous symbolism involved, experts agree there's little real evidence that the energy bill now stalemated in Congress would do very much to accelerate that process. The one major provision that might have cut oil usage even modestlyÛÓthe crude oil equalization tax the president proposedÛÓis dead, and even that wouldn't have cut imports very dramatically.