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OFFICIAL: ENERGY DEMAND COULD OUTPACE SUPPLY

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:10 AM CDT

Almost every activity a person engages in is connected to or assisted by electricity — from lights to television to microwaves, and the demand for the energy is growing and at a rate that if not addressed will outpace supply, Paul Suskie, chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, said Tuesday.

Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald Paul Suskie, chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, speaks to the Pine Bluff Rotary showing off a pound of coal in his left hand versus a nuclear pellet on a card in his right Tuesday afternoon at the Pine Bluff Country Club.

Suskie was the guest speaker at the Pine Bluff Rotary Club.

There is expected to be a 29 percent increase in the demand for electricity worldwide by 2030, and even if the U.S. lowers its demand, developing countries, including China and India, will soon surpass in their demands due to their populations, added Suskie. The push to move away from oil-based energy is not a new fight and is a smart decision, but it should not be the only focus when improvements on alternatives are needed during the transition.

While Americans need to do as much as possible to run cars on alternative energy sources including electricity, said Suskie, there are still major improvements needed on home power energy sources. Coal, the main source of electric power, is cheap and abundant, but still needs to be burned more cleanly to reduce carbon emissions. Nuclear is cheap as well as emissions free, but creates a waste disposal problem. Natural gas, while abundant, is getting more expensive.

“One of the biggest mistakes we’ve made is getting away from nuclear power,” said Suskie. “Even if you don’t believe in the global warming issue, it makes sense to conserve.” Suskie noted that the United States is not solely to blame for the energy crises, but it needs to be a leader in change since this country consumes 23 percent of global energy with only 5 percent of the population. He said that there has been progress but wherever someone can conserve, it will help in the long run. Programmable thermostats, appliances with the Energy Star label and compact fluorescent light bulbs would help.

“The No. 2 cost of businesses is energy and if it gets too high, more will have to close their doors,” added Suskie. “How we meet demands and reduce CO2 with growing populations is the trillion dollar question.”

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