Liquid fuels in the 21st century: An update and the nuclear option

Assuring a secure supply of essential liquid fuels will be a continuing problem in the foreseeable future. Bold measures in exploration, utilization, and fuel switching will be needed. Domestic oil production can presently supply only 85% of transportation fuels; the country is dependent on foreign sources for the rest. The financial and strategic security of the U.S. can be served by identifying and concentrating on the programs able to impact the major energy vulnerability - liquid fuels for transportation. In addition to increased conventional oil and gas discoveries and enhanced recovery efficiencies, this requires the finding, developing, and adapting of fuels other than conventional petroleum for electric generation and for all possible stationary uses. Known technology can be marshalled to improve the utilization of energy in transportation, such as nuclear generation and the electrification of the intercity rail system. If the bulk of intercity freight now powered by diesel fuel were carried on a feasible nuclear-based electrified rail system, it could replace oil equal to the oil imports from Saudi Arabia, the equivalent of the production from a 3.6-4.8-billion-barrel oilfield in the continental U.S. The recognition and aggressive development of this and other realistic alternatives to petroleum-based fuels is essential.