THE MYTH OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

     Vice President Gore believes United States Energy Policy should focus on conservation and alternate energy, not increased supply. Here are the statistics regarding sources of primary energy and electric power.

Total U.S. Energy Consumption by Primary Energy Source, 1998
(EIA Sept. 1999)

Petroleum                                        40.7%
Natural Gas                                     24.1%
Coal                                                23.3%
Nuclear                                           7.9%
Hydro                                              3.8%
Other                                               0.2%
Total:                                          100.0%

USA Electicity Supply By Source in 1999
(Calculated from EIA, October 2000 data)

Coal                                               50.6%
Nuclear                                          19.6%
Natural Gas                                    15.0%
Hydroelectric                                   8.3%
Petroleum                                         3.8%
Geothermal, Solar, Wind                 2.4%
Other gaseous fuels                          0.3%
Total:                                             100%

    Since FY1980, the US Department of Energy has provided over $9 billion in research funding for alternative energy projects, yet alternate energy still provides significantly less than 1% of domestic primary energy demand.

     Alternate energy is wonderful, and necessary long-term, but simply not practical nor presently economically competitive. Fossil fuels will continue to power the economy for another generation!

     Conservation is great, but despite almost doubling average automobile mileage in the past 20 years, demand for transportation fuels has skyrocketed. Motor gasoline demand has increased 28% from 6.58 MM bbl/day in 1981 to 8.47 MM bbl/day, despite our conservation efforts. Americans want mobility! How does Mr. Gore propose to provide Americans with the freedom of movement they demand and expect?