ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a dynamic model of the United States energy system that is designed to be an efficient tool for comparing the potential economic, security, and environmental benefits/disbenefits attributable to alternative energy R&D programs. Results are generated for each of the eight scenarios by employing an optimization model that explicitly adjusts the buildup of capacity for energy conversion facilities for both existing and new technologies that are assumed to be available. If the liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) program is added to a scenario that already assumes development of improved end-use efficiency devices and synfuels, its marginal economic benefit ratio would be.4 or less. The order of magnitude differences in the benefit-cost ratios shown here suggests, perhaps, that the federal energy R&D priorities should be set in terms of improved end-use efficiencies first, then synfuels, and finally, LMFBRs.
