Briefing book on the energy situation in New England

• Main Authors: Brainard, J P, Munson, J S, Palmedo, P F
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: 29 ENERGY PLANNING; POLICY AND ECONOMY; CONNECTICUT; ENERGY SUPPLIES; ENERGY POLICY; MAINE; MASSACHUSETTS; NEW HAMPSHIRE; RHODE ISLAND; USA; VERMONT; ECONOMICS; ENERGY SOURCES; INCOME; MARKET; PUBLIC RELATIONS; REGIONAL ANALYSIS; GOVERNMENT POLICIES; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7326732; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7326732; https://doi.org/10.2172/7326732

This briefing book is designed to give a concise overview of the facts of the energy situation in New England and of attitudes within the region towards current energy issues. Many of the central problems of U.S. energy policy are manifested in the region in a magnified form. The region entered the period of energy shortages and increasing prices in an economically declining condition. Energy prices were already high in 1970, 30% higher than the rest of the country; the difference increased to 38% by 1974. With essentially no indigenous energy resources, New England is an energy-importing region. For various reasons it is also more dependent on petroleum than other regions of the country and, at the same time, distant from domestic petroleum-producing regions. The result is that over 60% of the fuels it consumes is imported from abroad. Although the future supply of energy to the region is critically dependent on energy-resource policies, policies related for example to coal and oil shale development, the region's concerns cluster around policies and technologies that are perceived to have a more direct impact on its energy welfare. Thus, energy conservation, solar energy, nuclear power, offshore oil development and, in general, the price of energy to the region are paramount issues of concern and debate. Following the Introductory chapter, these issues are discussed in four additional chapters: The Energy Situation in New England; Regional Energy Issues; Energy-Related Institutions; and State Legislation.