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An initial ethical evaluation of alternative energy strategies
Schienke, Erich William
Schienke, Erich William
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Abstract
"In the 2006 State of the Union Address, U.S. President George W. Bush admitted that the American economy had a serious problem with oil. "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. The best way to break this addiction is through technology." While there may be some quibble with the terms of addiction here, in that asking the current economy to give up oil is like asking a person to give up oxygen, the metaphor is poignant in allowing us to think such an addiction can be tamed, even transformed, through collective effort and willpower. What follows in the speech, however, is a strange pride in the statistic that since 2001, the U.S. has spent "$10 billion to develop cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternative energy sources -- and we are on the threshold of incredible advances." What President Bush did not go on to detail is that since 1980, a peak year, total energy research and development spending has fallen by 68% (World Energy Council 2007). For such a serious addiction, energy research spending was cut drastically under Regan in 1986, and under the Clinton administration, spending hit a 26-year low in 1999. (p.1).
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2007-07
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With permission of the license/copyright holder