Article | 1983

The Fragility of Domestic Energy

By Amory Lovins
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In this classic article from 1983, Amory Lovins questions the reliability of America’s domestic energy supply. Domestic energy sources seem to be the answer to the fragility of an energy supply that comes mainly from international sources. However, Lovins argues that most domestic sources are also centralized, and hence vulnerable to different, but equally serious, kinds of disruption. This article questions the security and reliability of energy that comes from centralized sources. He proposes focusing on energy efficiency measures as a way of preventing disruption to the energy supply. He also proposes specific economic strategies for ensuring domestic economic and energy security.