Few areas of government policy affect so much of our lives as energy, yet it is given so little attention by the public. Whether it's gasoline for the car (or SUV), electricity for the home or office, or natural gas for a factory, energy is just something consumers, large and small, expect to be able to count on. It should always be there when we want it, and should always work reliably. It should be cheap, or at least not expensive, and it should be safe, clean (at least at the end use), quiet, and unobtrusive. Energy has now come to permeate nearly all aspects of our economy and lifestyles, but we don't want to have to think about it. In fact, when Americans do consider energy policy, it's usually for negative reasons. Sometimes it's a rise in gasoline prices due to conflict in the Middle East, other times, a sweltering summer sprinkled with news stories about global climate change. Or it could be a persistent feeling that natural gas or electricity prices are being manipulated by large corporations, or the anxiety that comes with the announcement that a new power plant is being built nearby. It could be wondering whether a California-style crisis will come to their homes and workplaces. Or the news stories of security problems at a nuclear power plant... of a refinery explosion or coal mine accident... of terrorists or tyrants thriving on oil riches. The list of negatives goes on and on.
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