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POINT COUNTERPOINT Energy Policy POINT COUNTERPOINT Affirmative Action Legalizing Marijuana Amateur Athletics Mandatory Military Service American Military Policy Media Bias Animal Rights Mental Health Reform Bankruptcy Law Miranda Rights Blogging Open Government Capital Punishment, Second Edition Physician-Assisted Suicide Disaster Relief Policing the Internet DNA Evidence Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs Drugs and Sports Prisoners’ Rights Educational Standards Private Property Rights Election Reform Protecting Ideas Energy Policy Religion in Public Schools Environmental Regulations and Global Warming Rights of Students The FCC and Regulating Indecency Fetal Rights Food Safety Freedom of Speech Gay Rights Gun Control Hate Crimes The Right to Die The Right to Privacy Search and Seizure Sentencing Sex Offenders Smoking Bans, Second Edition Stem Cell Research and Cloning Tort Reform Trial of Juveniles as Adults Immigrants’ Rights After 9/11 The War on Terror, Second Edition Immigration Policy, Second Edition Welfare Reform Legalized Gambling Women in the Military POINT COUNTERPOINT Energy Policy By Paul Ruschmann, J.D. SERIES CONSULTING EDITOR Alan Marzilli, M.A., J.D. Energy Policy Copyright © 2009 by Infobase Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ruschmann, Paul. Energy policy / by Paul Ruschmann. p. cm. — (Point/counterpoint) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60413-333-2 (hardcover) 1. Energy policy—United States—History. 2. Energy policy—History. I. Title. II. Series. HD9502.A4.R8 2009 333.790973—dc22 2008045706 Chelsea House books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Chelsea House on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Series design by Erik Lindstrom Cover design by Keith Trego and Alicia Post Printed in the United States of America Bang NMSG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. All links and Web addresses were checked and verified to be correct at the time of publication. Because of the dynamic nature of the Web, some addresses and links may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. POINT COUNTERPOINT Foreword 6 INTRODUCTION Energy and the Industrialized World 11 POINT Energy Depletion Is a Serious Threat 27 COUNTERPOINT Energy Is Abundant and Will Remain So 42 POINT Continued Reliance on Fossil Fuels Is Dangerous 57 COUNTERPOINT Alternative Energy Is Riskier Than Traditional Fuels 70 POINT Government Must Address the Energy Crisis 85 COUNTERPOINT A Free Market Is the Soundest Energy Policy 99 CONCLUSION Addressing Energy Depletion 112 Appendix: Beginning Legal Research 126 129 131 136 138 139 Elements of the Argument Notes Resource