ASME Encourages Balanced Energy Mix for Sustainability
October 23, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is urging policy makers to support a national energy policy that relies on a balanced mix of energy resources, while encouraging the development of renewable technologies to promote environmental sustainability.
According to ASME, conservation is a key component in a technologically-based, economically sound national energy policy ensuring a secure, sustainable and environmentally friendly supply of energy in America.
In its recent position statement, Securing America's Energy Future, ASME emphasized the use of a balanced energy supply to include nuclear power, coal and natural gas.
The national energy portfolio also must include the development and use of wind and solar power, hydroelectricity and fuels derived from biomass, among other environmentally friendly renewable sources.
The statement also called for the development of the most efficient energy production technologies, standardized and technically rigorous methods to calculate the contribution of specific energy sources to the country's energy supply mix and tax incentives to developers of renewable energy.
"The current energy climate in the U.S. is challenging for America's future," said Sam Zamrik, president of ASME. "American citizens are increasingly aware of the environmental and security concerns of the nation's dependence upon foreign sources of oil and gas."
Source: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).