Natural Resources, Energy & the Environment in the 21st Century

Another GAO Report: 21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government

… Today, according to our analysis of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) data, total U.S. energy consumption is equivalent to about
790 billion gallons of gasoline per year, which is nearly 2,800 gallons consumed by every man, woman, and child each year. Energy consumption is expected to increase about 30 percent over the next 20 years. As a result of these ever-increasing demands, energy reliability, affordability, efficiency, and sustainability remain a concern. Not only has our nation experienced multiple energy crises, but our systems remain perpetually on the cusp of critical supply/demand imbalances.

…The recent collapse of the energy grid in northeastern and midwestern states and the cascading blackouts that followed, as well as the increases in gasoline and heating oil prices, may be early warning signs of more pressing problems to come.

[pfd] gao.gov

…Land use planning practices that do not adequately consider land, water, and petroleum availability can contribute to sprawling development and a host of problems. Such practices have had a part in automobile usage reaching new highs each year, open space dwindling, air pollution becoming more difficult to control, and the reliance on imported oil continuing to climb. Likewise, population growth, particularly in arid regions of the country, may soon face a limiting obstacle