Are Environmental Regulations Attaining a Realistic Balance among Energy and Environmental Goals

The current national energy goals are to increase the use of coal and nuclear fuels, thereby decreasing the Nation's dependence on foreign oil, and also increase conservation activities. Solar and other inexhaustible sources of energy are expected to be in widespread use by early in the 21st century. The Clear Air Act Amendments of 1977 require that air quality regulations for sulfur oxides and particulate matter become more stringent and below the level that scientific evidence indicates is necessary to protect public health and welfare. In order to achieve both environmental and energy goals concurrently, coal-fired generators could be provided with a single environmental control that would be more effective in protecting ambient air quality than multiple individual controls. An electrically driven heat pump is better than that of directly fired oil or gas units.