730 



• * * the Nation's future growth seems almost certain to be 

 altered drastically from past patterns in which dependency 

 on relatively cheap and plentiful energy has been a principal 

 characteristic. Such a drastic change would likely require 

 explicit policies for a coordinated transition to a different — 

 energy conserving — pattern of national growth.^ 



The Council report also stated: 



Through the entrepreneurehip of private industry and the 

 stimulus of Government programs, the application of tech- 

 nology has resulted in a startling tenfold increase in the value 

 of the Nation's economic output in just 40 years. No more 

 rapid increase in aggregate economic output has occurred at 

 any previous period in world history. As spectacular as this 

 growth was in bringing prosperity to wide segments of 

 American society, it was achieved at a price which became 

 increasingly unacceptable. The clustering of technological 

 complexes has brought air and water pollution as well as 

 urban congestion that produced social conflicts and environ- 

 mental degradation which were not only contrary to Ameri- 

 can values but also tlireats to continued technological advance. 

 These unintended and unanticipated consequences became the 

 focus of public concern and. eventually, the Coastal Zone 

 Management Act was enacted to avoid the detrimental aspects 

 while securing the benefits of future applications of tech- 

 nology in the Nation's economic growth. 



The committee notes that much of the future growth of the United 

 States will occur in or near the coastal zone. Such growth will bring 

 with it many associated problems. For example : 



• More than 50 percent of the population of the Ignited 

 States lives in the counties bordering the oceans and the Great 

 Lakes, and it has been estimated that by the year 2000, some 

 200 million people will live in the coastal zone. 



• The seven largest metropolitan areas of the United States 

 are on the coast. 



• Forty percent of the industrial complexes are in estuarine 

 ar^as. 



• Sixty percent of I".S. refining capacity is concentrated in 

 four coastal states (Texas, Louisiana, California and New 

 Jersey) , mostly on or near the coast. 



• Tlie Interior Department estimates that housing develop- 

 ments will become the leading causes of loss of estuarine 

 areas. 



• Much of the anticipated growth in electric power gen- 

 erating capacity will be installed in the coastal zone. Forty 

 pei'cent of the generating capacity brouglit into service at new 



- "Recommendation for an Assessment of National Growth Policy Focused on the Sit- 

 ing of Energy Facilities," Technology Assessment Advisory Councii. Office of Technology 

 Assessment, U.S. Congress, November 20, 1974. 



