Forecaster: Global Energy Demand Will Skyrocket
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) -- A top energy forecaster says global demand will go up at least 50 percent in the next 25 years.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports, Don Fournier, program manager of the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center, says China is driving the growing demand.
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"The Japanese own cars at the rate of one car for every two people," Fournier said. "If the Chinese buy cars at that rate, that's another 650 million cars in the world. Where are we going to get the fuel to fuel those cars? How much emissions are they going to put out? If everybody in the world wants to live at our level that we do in the United States, the energy would have to quadruple in the world."
Fournier says the U.S. has never had a comprehensive policy on sustainable energy.
"I just think there's so much dysfunction in Washington… historically, there has been little agreement between, how much do you drive from the center of government, versus how much is done from the private sector," he said.
Fournier also says the coal industry – in health care costs alone – is responsible for $200 billion to $400 billion. Imagine, he says, what that kind of money could do for renewable energy.
He adds that if you don't like paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline, the best thing you can do is to use less of it, even if it means buying a more fuel-efficient car.
The center, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is part of the University of Illinois School of Architecture.
