Nothing is Constant But Change

Abstract

There is an old adage - nothing is constant but change. This sage observation is especially true in looking at today's energy picture. The energy crisis is dead. Energy problems are no longer the moral equivalent of war. Personally, I never did fully subscribe to the use of the word crises, I preferred transition instead. However, to people waiting in a gasoline line, I'm sure crises was a suitable description.

Today there appears to be plenty of oil and its price has stabilized. We can expect these favorable conditions to continue into the near future barring any sudden and substantial change in international politics. Natural gas is plentiful though its price continues to climb. Also there are many very knowledgeable people in the gas business who believe decontrol will lead to even more ample supplies and possible lower prices. Coal and electricity are best described as being in over abundance. Witness the number of coal mines shut-in and the number of new nuclear power plants recently cancelled or postponed. Complacency in regard to energy problems is setting in.