ENERGY-RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE UNITED-STATES, 1985 TO 2000

Energy and the gross national product have grown hand in hand at 3 to 31/2 percent a year for almost 40 years. Our energy growth is slowing down and will essentially level off in the 1990's. Our production of oil and gas passed a peak in the early 1970's, and there is no resource base to justify predictions of increased yields. Coal is the only fossil fuel capable of increased production. There are serious doubts that our uranium resources can support a large light-water reactor program. Finding rates for petroleum, natural gas, and uranium are less than half of what they were 20 years ago. Copyright © 1979 AAAS.