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Energy policy and land use planning: An international perspective
Book reviews laying out the issues to be addressed. For example, regional aspects of the Soviet energy situation (which are too important to completely ignore) are barely mentioned. He conceives of the Soviet energy situation mainly in aggregate terms; for example, oil production difficulties are presented in terms of a national 'supply ceiling' and depletion ratio. In some ways, the book can be said to represent more of a study of the operation of the Soviet economy and the kinds of choices faced by its planners, than one on energy. This closely relates to one of the main themes of the book. He states that the Soviets are adroitly and skillfully exploiting the many possibilities available, yet consistently identifies the Soviet economic system (planning practices, indicators used, pricing) as preventing the kind of change needed to deal with the energy problem, mainly in energy consumption, but also in production. Subtly, he seems to imply that the current Soviet economic mechanism has a great deal of difficulty realizing the array of possibilities available, and thus he seems to call for major economic reform. Two of Hewett's main points are that the energy system must be treated as a whole, and energy supply and demand must be considered together. Both points are used to illustrate the weaknesses of the now infamous C I A reports on Soviet oil prospects. The CIA analysis focussed exclusively on oil production, without considering the context of alternative energy supplies or Soviet consumption patterns. While certainly important, these two issues are hardly new (see The Soviet Energy System: Resource Use and Policies by Dienes and Shabad). Major theme A major theme in the book is the substitution of gas for oil. Hewett states that the rapid increase in Soviet gas output is compensating for the slow growth (and now decline) of oil output. This certainly is an important development, but one could have hoped for a more comprehensive analysis of some of the very real problems involved in this substitution. The cost of transporting gas, seasonal
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variations in gas demand and the lack of storage capacity, and severe shortcomings in the oil refining industry are all very important aspects of this process, but are only cursorily mentioned, if at all. For example, gas storage capacity is so limited (it was only about 7% of Soviet consumption in 1980) that in winter when heating needs increase the gas system cannot supply enough gas. This forces many gas users to switch to petroleum and greatly limits the overall amount which gas can supplant. Also, because power stations and other industrial and municipal boilers account for such a large proportion of Soviet petroleum consumption, there is great potential for substituting coal and natural gas under boilers, freeing petroleum for more valuable uses (motor fuels and chemical feedstocks). However, the refining industry produces mostly residual fuel oil because of the heavy reliance on straight-run distillation processes. This drastically limits the possibilities for reducing petroleum's use as a boiler fuel. These very real limitations deserve some comment. In terms of the foreign policy im-
plications of the Soviet energy situation, Hewett quickly lays to rest the mistaken premise that a 'shortage' of oil could lead to Soviet military activity in the Middle East. He also concludes that US economic pressures have little impact upon the USSR or USSR-European energy links; in fact, they do more harm to the West than the USSR. However, he does point out that the area where economic conditions will most likely affect Soviet foreign policy is Eastern Europe; because of deteriorating economic performance, pressures in the USSR have been mounting to alter the traditional economic relationship with the region. This book is not an in-depth, detailed analysis of Soviet energy. But its broad view is stimulating and deserves a wide readership, particularly by those interested in public policy or in government.
Matthew J. Sagers Soviet Economic Studies Branch Center for International Research Bureau of the Census Washington, DC
A welcome collection ENERGY POLICY AND LAND USE PLANNING: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE edited by D.R. Cope, P. Hills and P. James
Urban and Regional Planning Series, Vo132, Pergamon, Oxford, UK, 1984, 308 pp, £ 14.O0paperback, £25. O0 hardback The relationship between land use planning systems and the pursuit of energy policy implementation is the central concern of this volume. However, this is not yet another attempt to address the issues of macr o e c o n o m i c planning and energy costs, or energy supply and its resultant enviromental effects. Rather, it tackles the mutually felt frustration that it is often the planning system which is used to publicly evaluate both national energy policy and particular
energy-related developments which are part of the practical manifestation of that policy. The editors provide an introductory chapter which delineates many of the substantive and procedural issues involved, setting the primarily descriptive tone for the ensuing material. Competent chapters on the British development of coal (Hills), North Sea oil (Mackay) and gas (Roberts and Shaw), give overviews of the historical background and organizational characteristics, and provide some useful case studies of the difficult planning experiences of recent years. Hills pays particular attention to deep and opencast mining, to colliery closures and to technological change and new coalfield developments; Mackay to local economic impacts of oilfield developments; and Roberts and Shaw to the onshore impacts of offshore development. A subsequent chapter by Glasson on the
ENERGY POLICY October 1985
Book reviews
local impacts of power stations draws upon the well known CEGBsponsored research programme, giving a careful account of the Board's siting procedures.
Discrete chapters The 'international perspective' is provided by three discrete chapters on overseas experience of yet further energy forms. Jon O'Riordan's chapter relates the Canadian planning process' attempts at dealing with energy projects (mainly Hydro) in British Columbia, through Inquiry Commisions. Janssen's chapter on nuclear power and land use planning in the Netherlands, and Gough and Lewis' chapter on renewables and planning in Ireland, essentially provide more of the same - - clear overviews of central issues. The volume then unsatisfactorily reverts back to British material with a p i e c e by O w e n s on the i n t e r -
relationship between energy and the b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t , f o l l o w e d by Copes's review of the policy advice and regulatory structure, and troubled history of radioactive waste management up to the abortive high-level waste test drilling programme of 198081 The editors' concluding chapter is most revealing of the essential weaknesses of this volume, for they rather tamely revert to theories of rational and critical decision making as a means of clarifying the role of planners in energy matters. The book is essentially descriptive and athoretical. It fails to draw upon much of the broad seam of social science literature which addresses many of the key issues - - in particular from the fields of policy analysis, planning theory and environmental risk assessment. The book also fails to satisfy because of its internal structure - - the 'international perspective' is insufficiently presented to provide an alternative to the British
A thorough ensemble ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, PART 1 edited by Phil O'Keefe and Barry Munslow ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, PART 2 edited by Phil O'Keefe and Barry Munslow MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SADCC COUNTRIES by Richard Peet WOOD, ENERGY AND HOUSEHOLDS edited by Carolyn Barnes, Jean Ensminger and Phil O'Keefe
Numbers 3-6 in the 'Energy Environment and Development in Africa' Series, edited by P. O'Keefe and B. Munslow. Published by the Beijer Institute and the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala, Sweden, 1984, SEK 75.00 The background to this series of nine volumes concerning the broad energy situation in the nine countries partici-
ENERGY P O U C Y October 1985
pating in the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) was the funding provided by certain European agencies (notably Scandinavian) to pursue energy studies in the region. The results of these studies were presented at the Conference, held in December 1982 in Zimbabwe, and later edited into this very thorough ensemble. It cannot be argued that the series lacks substance, as each volume averages about 200 pages, but what can be noted - and indeed this leaps from the pages of nearly all the volumes - is that the approach of the experts involved in making the country and subject studies, with few exceptions, is overwhelmingly concerned with resource and ecological conservation, and the woodfuel question. Volume 6, which concerns a country outside the nine 'frontline states', Kenya, provides an excellent, highly detailed study of wood energy problems, resources, new approaches to sustaining demand, and so on, in Kenya. This volume runs to over 200
experience. A n d finally, one feels that much more could have been made of the impact of the land use planning system upon potential energy developments rather than vice versa. The effect of public inquiries on energy proposals is evident throughout the volume, with a good deal of useful empirical material on hand, it seems a pity that the editors were unable to thematize this and related material in a more stimulating manner. Nevertheless, this is a welcome collection, with Cope's and Hills' individual chapters being particularly topical and it should prove to be a useful volume for planners, planning students, and students of energy policy and its implementation.
Ray Kemp Sizewell Inquiry Review Project University of East Anglia Norwich, UK
pages, but Volume 5, treating manufacturing industry and economic development in all nine of the 'frontline states' is the slimmest volume of the series, at around 100 pages. What is evident concerning these disparate Lusophone and Anglophone countries of Southern Africa is that with few clear exceptions (perhaps M a l a w i and T a n z a n i a , p r o b a b l y Swaziland) they are rather rich in resources, often in energy resources. Their populations are still small, though growing at alarmihgly high rates, and densities are mostly very low. Some have well established energy resource bases, due to their abundance and ease of exploitation. One can note Mozambique's electric power (Volume 4), A n g o l a ' s p e t r o l e u m (Volume 3), and Botswana's enormous coal potential (Volume 3). Sometimes the energy conservation approach, no doubt unintentionally, verges on the caricatural, as for example in the Mozambique country paper (Volume 4) where efficient use and conservation of electric power is proposed as a major need. Yet Mozambique has a hydro generation potential (at no more than $2000 per kW) of
499
498
variations in gas demand and the lack of storage capacity, and severe shortcomings in the oil refining industry are all very important aspects of this process, but are only cursorily mentioned, if at all. For example, gas storage capacity is so limited (it was only about 7% of Soviet consumption in 1980) that in winter when heating needs increase the gas system cannot supply enough gas. This forces many gas users to switch to petroleum and greatly limits the overall amount which gas can supplant. Also, because power stations and other industrial and municipal boilers account for such a large proportion of Soviet petroleum consumption, there is great potential for substituting coal and natural gas under boilers, freeing petroleum for more valuable uses (motor fuels and chemical feedstocks). However, the refining industry produces mostly residual fuel oil because of the heavy reliance on straight-run distillation processes. This drastically limits the possibilities for reducing petroleum's use as a boiler fuel. These very real limitations deserve some comment. In terms of the foreign policy im-
plications of the Soviet energy situation, Hewett quickly lays to rest the mistaken premise that a 'shortage' of oil could lead to Soviet military activity in the Middle East. He also concludes that US economic pressures have little impact upon the USSR or USSR-European energy links; in fact, they do more harm to the West than the USSR. However, he does point out that the area where economic conditions will most likely affect Soviet foreign policy is Eastern Europe; because of deteriorating economic performance, pressures in the USSR have been mounting to alter the traditional economic relationship with the region. This book is not an in-depth, detailed analysis of Soviet energy. But its broad view is stimulating and deserves a wide readership, particularly by those interested in public policy or in government.
Matthew J. Sagers Soviet Economic Studies Branch Center for International Research Bureau of the Census Washington, DC
A welcome collection ENERGY POLICY AND LAND USE PLANNING: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE edited by D.R. Cope, P. Hills and P. James
Urban and Regional Planning Series, Vo132, Pergamon, Oxford, UK, 1984, 308 pp, £ 14.O0paperback, £25. O0 hardback The relationship between land use planning systems and the pursuit of energy policy implementation is the central concern of this volume. However, this is not yet another attempt to address the issues of macr o e c o n o m i c planning and energy costs, or energy supply and its resultant enviromental effects. Rather, it tackles the mutually felt frustration that it is often the planning system which is used to publicly evaluate both national energy policy and particular
energy-related developments which are part of the practical manifestation of that policy. The editors provide an introductory chapter which delineates many of the substantive and procedural issues involved, setting the primarily descriptive tone for the ensuing material. Competent chapters on the British development of coal (Hills), North Sea oil (Mackay) and gas (Roberts and Shaw), give overviews of the historical background and organizational characteristics, and provide some useful case studies of the difficult planning experiences of recent years. Hills pays particular attention to deep and opencast mining, to colliery closures and to technological change and new coalfield developments; Mackay to local economic impacts of oilfield developments; and Roberts and Shaw to the onshore impacts of offshore development. A subsequent chapter by Glasson on the
ENERGY POLICY October 1985
Book reviews
local impacts of power stations draws upon the well known CEGBsponsored research programme, giving a careful account of the Board's siting procedures.
Discrete chapters The 'international perspective' is provided by three discrete chapters on overseas experience of yet further energy forms. Jon O'Riordan's chapter relates the Canadian planning process' attempts at dealing with energy projects (mainly Hydro) in British Columbia, through Inquiry Commisions. Janssen's chapter on nuclear power and land use planning in the Netherlands, and Gough and Lewis' chapter on renewables and planning in Ireland, essentially provide more of the same - - clear overviews of central issues. The volume then unsatisfactorily reverts back to British material with a p i e c e by O w e n s on the i n t e r -
relationship between energy and the b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t , f o l l o w e d by Copes's review of the policy advice and regulatory structure, and troubled history of radioactive waste management up to the abortive high-level waste test drilling programme of 198081 The editors' concluding chapter is most revealing of the essential weaknesses of this volume, for they rather tamely revert to theories of rational and critical decision making as a means of clarifying the role of planners in energy matters. The book is essentially descriptive and athoretical. It fails to draw upon much of the broad seam of social science literature which addresses many of the key issues - - in particular from the fields of policy analysis, planning theory and environmental risk assessment. The book also fails to satisfy because of its internal structure - - the 'international perspective' is insufficiently presented to provide an alternative to the British
A thorough ensemble ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, PART 1 edited by Phil O'Keefe and Barry Munslow ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, PART 2 edited by Phil O'Keefe and Barry Munslow MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SADCC COUNTRIES by Richard Peet WOOD, ENERGY AND HOUSEHOLDS edited by Carolyn Barnes, Jean Ensminger and Phil O'Keefe
Numbers 3-6 in the 'Energy Environment and Development in Africa' Series, edited by P. O'Keefe and B. Munslow. Published by the Beijer Institute and the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala, Sweden, 1984, SEK 75.00 The background to this series of nine volumes concerning the broad energy situation in the nine countries partici-
ENERGY P O U C Y October 1985
pating in the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) was the funding provided by certain European agencies (notably Scandinavian) to pursue energy studies in the region. The results of these studies were presented at the Conference, held in December 1982 in Zimbabwe, and later edited into this very thorough ensemble. It cannot be argued that the series lacks substance, as each volume averages about 200 pages, but what can be noted - and indeed this leaps from the pages of nearly all the volumes - is that the approach of the experts involved in making the country and subject studies, with few exceptions, is overwhelmingly concerned with resource and ecological conservation, and the woodfuel question. Volume 6, which concerns a country outside the nine 'frontline states', Kenya, provides an excellent, highly detailed study of wood energy problems, resources, new approaches to sustaining demand, and so on, in Kenya. This volume runs to over 200
experience. A n d finally, one feels that much more could have been made of the impact of the land use planning system upon potential energy developments rather than vice versa. The effect of public inquiries on energy proposals is evident throughout the volume, with a good deal of useful empirical material on hand, it seems a pity that the editors were unable to thematize this and related material in a more stimulating manner. Nevertheless, this is a welcome collection, with Cope's and Hills' individual chapters being particularly topical and it should prove to be a useful volume for planners, planning students, and students of energy policy and its implementation.
Ray Kemp Sizewell Inquiry Review Project University of East Anglia Norwich, UK
pages, but Volume 5, treating manufacturing industry and economic development in all nine of the 'frontline states' is the slimmest volume of the series, at around 100 pages. What is evident concerning these disparate Lusophone and Anglophone countries of Southern Africa is that with few clear exceptions (perhaps M a l a w i and T a n z a n i a , p r o b a b l y Swaziland) they are rather rich in resources, often in energy resources. Their populations are still small, though growing at alarmihgly high rates, and densities are mostly very low. Some have well established energy resource bases, due to their abundance and ease of exploitation. One can note Mozambique's electric power (Volume 4), A n g o l a ' s p e t r o l e u m (Volume 3), and Botswana's enormous coal potential (Volume 3). Sometimes the energy conservation approach, no doubt unintentionally, verges on the caricatural, as for example in the Mozambique country paper (Volume 4) where efficient use and conservation of electric power is proposed as a major need. Yet Mozambique has a hydro generation potential (at no more than $2000 per kW) of
499