10 things the nation must do to avert an energy crunch

THE price of crude oil has topped $100 a barrel and could go higher. Rising demand for oil in India and China, combined with global bottlenecks in production and refining, could cause an energy crunch with the potential to disrupt economies and place public safety at risk.

At the same time, the burning of carbon-rich fossil fuels is creating greenhouse gases and causing temperatures and sea levels to rise. The United States is the world


The following is a list of 10 steps the United States must take in order to avert an energy shortage and protect the environment.

1. Most of the oil consumed in the United States is for transportation. Congress recently raised fleet mileage (CAFE) standards to 35 miles per gallon. The mileage standard must continue to rise as swiftly as new technologies and concern for passenger safety allow.

2. Scholars and industry executives now agree that demand for oil will exceed supply in the next few years. U.S. energy needs demand that government and industry engage in a program to develop alternative energy sources