ABSTRACT
All energy sources, regardless of what kind and where they come from, share three characteristics: Each one has certain technological advantages and technological disadvantages. Each has economic benets and economic disincentives. Each impacts the environment in certain ways and may have potential benets for the environment. Working toward a sensible energy policy for a particular region or nation requires selecting a mixture of energy sources that best reach a balance or compromise among the issues of technology, economics, and environmental impact. That problem would be vexatious enough, but is further complicated by the fact that no unique solution works in all parts of the world at all times. Some places enjoy excellent resources for hydroelectric development; in other places, hydro would be a “nonstarter.” Some areas are ripe for the massive development of solar energy; elsewhere, solar might not be such an attractive option. These same things could be said about coal, nuclear, wind, or biomass, as examples.
