The National Energy Program 



The report^ presenting the recommended Energy Program for the 

 Nation was presented to the President in December of 1973. Like the 

 National Cancer Program Plan, the development of the National 

 Energy Program was assisted by the advice of several hundred 

 scientists, engineers, and technologists from all sectors. 



The recommended Program, it should be noted, encompasses 

 many aspects other than energy-related R&D such as economic, in- 

 stitutional, and legal considerations. The overall goals of the Program 

 call for the Nation to "regain energy self-sufficiency by 

 1980" and to "maintain that self-sufficiency at minimal dollar, 

 environmental, and social costs." The objective of the National Energy 

 R&D Program is to assist in achieving these goals through research 

 and development. 



The major tasks "required to regain and sustain self-sufficiency" 

 were identified as: 



Task 1. Conserve energy by reducing consumption and 

 conserve energy resources by increasing the technical 

 efficiency of conversion processes. 



Task 2. Increase domestic production of oil and natural gas as 

 rapidly as possible. 



Task 3. Increase the use of coal, first to supplement and later 

 to replace oil and natural gas. 



Task 4. Expand the production of nuclear energy as rapidly 

 as possible, first to supplement and later to replace fossil 

 energy. 



Task 5. Promote, to the maximum extent feasible, the use of 

 renewable energy sources (hydro, geothermal, solar) and 

 pursue the promise of fusion and central station solar power. 



The National Energy R&D Program is to help accomplish these 

 tasks. The specific technological objectives of the R&D program were 

 defined in terms of three time periods as follows: 



Near- Or Short-Term (Present to 1985) 



This category includes research and development 

 objectives that enhance the implementation of existing 

 technologies, identify additional resourcies, and improve the 



- The Nation's Energy future, a report to the President of the United States, U.S. 

 Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1973. 



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