PS 3480, Environmental Politics, March 8, 2007

   

How Does the United States Govern Energy?

Question of the day:
Should the United States encourage the expansion of nuclear power?

 


4.  The Politics of Oil

 

· Oil in the American economy

 

· The central problem for the industry:
  How to control production and prices after a new pool is discovered

 

· Solution 1: The Large Corporation

 

        The Standard Oil Company and the Governing of Oil

 

The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida Tarbell, 1904

 

 

· Solution 2: Government Regulation 

 

    The Texas Railroad Commission

 

 

· OPEC, the Oil Crises of the 1970s and the environmental agenda
 

4. The Politics of Nuclear Power    

 

The Promise of Nuclear Power


Nuclear Power and Public Policy: Government Encouragement

  • The Price Amendment (1957) - limits power company liability

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  • 1975: Nuclear Power at the height of its popularity


The Problems of Nuclear Power

  • Image Problems
  • 1979: Three Mile Island

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  • 1986: Chernobyl
  • Technical Problems

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  • Economic Problems

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  • Nuclear Waste

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  • Political Conflict (Shoreham)
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    • 5. Alternatives to Coal, Oil, and Nuclear Power

    a. Nonrenewable sources

    • Natural gas: Oil’s cleaner twin

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    b. Renewable sources

    • Geothermal
       
    • Hydropower

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      • The Tennessee Valley Authority

     

     

     

    c. Conservation