Mar. 9, 2001 (UPI) -- The recently proposed National Energy Security Act of 2001 has made many Americans aware that their country does not have a carefully thought-out long-range energy policy.

The most visible part of the legislation, a proposal to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, has become a lightning rod for criticism and has evoked strong opposition in Congress. The legislation is catalyzing a renewed in-depth discussion of America's energy policy.

In short, the act has a stated goal of shifting 7 percent of oil usage from imported to domestic sources. Such a shift would have little impact on overall U.S. dependency on imported oil and would result in more rapid depletion of U.S. proven oil reserves. The legislation also would relax clean air standards on coal burning companies and turn management of oil and gas leases on Federal lands over to the States.

These two features have raised serious concerns among many legislators and environmental groups.

Debate is centering on the nation's appetite for crude oil, from which the United States produces 39 percent of its energy. Natural gas provides another 23 percent, while coal produces 22 percent and nuclear reactors, 8 percent. Hydroelectric power generates about 4 percent as does the burning of wood and waste. Geothermal, solar and wind combined yield about half of 1 percent.

With 5 percent of the world's people, America uses about 25 percent of the world's annual energy consumption and produces 25 percent of the world's greenhouse gases.

From 1985 to 1999, total U.S. energy use grew by 26 percent while oil consumption rose by 22 percent. At the same time, U.S. oil production dropped 34 percent. The U.S. now imports twice the oil it imported 14 years ago. Since 1985, U.S. coal production for domestic use is up 24 percent and natural gas production up 14 percent.

America uses about seven billion barrels of oil a year. About 57 percent, four billion barrels, of this oil is imported. The rest, about 43 percent of total U.S. uses, is lifted from U.S. deposits.

Financial breaks in the proposed legislation for oil companies, many of which had very high earnings recently, are being criticized as misdirected Federal dollars that could better go toward subsidizing new and more efficient technologies.

Rather than looking for ways to increase fossil fuel energy supplies, many groups and legislators are promoting increased efficiencies and new technologies.

Developing wind, solar and geothermal energy and shifting from reliance on coal to natural gas are approaches also getting renewed attention.

Gasoline consumption by cars, SUVs and light trucks utilize about 40 percent of all U.S. oil. After automobile fuel efficiency standards were mandated by Congress in the late 1970s, average mileage rose 44 percent in a decade. Comparable efficiencies today, clearly possible with new technologies, would save close to a billion barrels of oil a year.

Requiring light trucks and SUVs to meet passenger car mileage standards would save hundreds of millions of barrels a year.

While "fuel cell" conjures up images of astronauts, eight of the major auto manufacturers are moving forward in this area. Fuel cell powered cars will be available to fleet operators in about five years and consumers in ten years.

"Even the automobile industry is realizing the need for more fuel-efficient cars," Chris Hayday, a global warming and energy specialist with the Sierra Club, told United Press International.

Electricity use in the United States is up about 24 percent in the last 10 years, with peak summer demand presenting the greatest supply problems.

"Soaring air conditioner use on hot summer days is the straw that breaks the back of overloaded power systems," according to Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

If industry and consumers used air conditioners with 30 percent greater efficiency, not only would summer blackouts be a thing of the past, but it would be possible to avoid building 155 new 500 megawatt power plants, Nadel says in a report he coauthored for the Appliance Standards Awareness Project.

According to Daniel Lashof, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, wind generated electricity is becoming cost-competitive with gas-fired electricity generation. Investors are building wind farms and getting their investments and profits back in ten years, Lashof told UPI.

A number of environmental organizations are pushing for natural gas to replace coal for electricity generation, cutting emission gases by about half. The U.S. produces 81 percent of its natural gas and imports essentially all the rest from Canada. Honda and Ford are experimenting with cars powered by natural gas.

Industry uses 38 percent of total energy in the United States, with transportation consuming 27 percent and commercial and residential use combined totaling 35 percent. Some companies are achieving remarkable energy efficiencies, and consequent savings, in industries as diverse as aluminum wheel manufacture, beer making, paper, fertilizer, textile and steel production while reducing pollution levels radically.

Beer manufacturers process their own organic refuse and capture methane for fuel. Aluminum wheel manufacturers are efficiently utilizing aluminum shavings. Wood pulp manufacturers are redirecting their own waste steam for energy. Textile factories are installing sensors to instantly reduce unnecessary energy use. All these techniques have shown remarkable payback on capital investments.

Forward-looking companies are employing energy-efficient building techniques and more efficient lighting, heating, air conditioning and process control systems. Overall savings of 40 to 60 percent have been achieved, according to ACEEE.

Consumers are achieving significantly lower utility bills through the purchase of energy-saving appliances. Electricity bill savings from buying an energy efficient air-conditioner are twice any additional purchase cost, according to ASAP.

There are many energy and money-saving innovations, efficiencies and environmentally sound measures that market forces will put in place in the next few decades. These steps forward, that will benefit the nation as a whole, could be accelerated by legislation that mandates higher mileage standards for vehicles and uses tax credits to reward consumers and companies for energy conservation measures and environmentally beneficial actions.

Copyright 2001 by United Press International.