Can alternative energy resources be brought into large-scale use in the united states by the year 2000?

Harrison Brown

Energy, 1979, vol. 4, issue 5, 723-731

Abstract: The greatest single barrier to the replacement of imported crude oil with alternative indigenous fuels on a substantial scale is an economic one. Alternatives to natural crude oil (for liquid fuels) will be more expensive for many years in the future. For example, a study made in 1977 by the National Research Council suggests that synthetic crude oil could be produced from coal at a cost of between $20 and $30 per barrel (1976 dollars). Some experts believe that this estimate should be raised to $25 to $40. Comparing this with OPECs October 1979 price of $14.54 per barrel, it is unrealistic for us to expect that synthetic crude oil will compete with natural crude oil very soon. By the time there is a true economic competition it will probably be too late for the major oil importing countries to do much about it.

Date: 1979
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:4:y:1979:i:5:p:723-731

DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(79)90006-9

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