Executive Summary:

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) global energy consumption is projected to increase by 60% from 2002 to 2025.  While much of the growth in worldwide energy use is forecasted to take place in emerging and transitioning economies such as China and India, mature market economies like the United States will continue to experience increased volatility and uncertainty in energy reliability and costs.  This trend can only be exacerbated by an aging utility infrastructure and a rapidly expanding demand for electricity, natural gas and other fossil fuels.

While it is true the U.S. has made progress in energy conservation and the use of renewable energy resources since the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, it is clear that we have not achieved our national goals of energy independence, security or reliability.  In fact, since "9/11" and "Hurricane Katrina" it has become increasingly clear that the US, in general, and the North East, in particular, are still woefully unprepared and as vulnerable as ever to man-made or natural energy crises.  As energy consumption trends continue to increase and our national appetite for fossil fuels continues unabated; our economic, environmental and energy challenges will continue well into the 21st Century.