The cornerstones to build a sound energy supply and deliveryfoundation in the United States are flexibility, access todevelopment, and coordinated energy policies, according toCambridge Energy Research Associates Chairman Daniel Yergin.Speaking at the National Energy Summit sponsored by the U.S.Chamber of Commerce this week, Yergin warned that the country couldno longer take energy for granted, and echoed calls for a strongenergy policy to guarantee economic growth.

“We need as a nation to focus on energy, which has been takenfor granted since the (Persian) Gulf crisis a decade ago,” Yerginsaid. “Supply can no longer be taken for granted. A sound energysupply and delivery system is fundamental to economic growth.”

The CERA chief said that natural gas “is the real swing fuel forthe economy today,” and because supplies are tightening, attentionis being focused to develop supplies in the deepwater Gulf ofMexico, the growing liquefied natural gas market, Arctic gas andoffshore Atlantic Canada frontiers.

“These frontier projects can be economic, but for that to happenrequires a spirit of cooperation,” Yergin said. “With theseprojects we have the potential to bring what consumers need, whichis reasonable prices, and reliable, environmentally friendly energysupplies both from the frontiers and traditional resources.”

Yergin also called for a streamlined permit process, with”better alignment and coordination between power development andgas supply development.” He said what the country needs “is therecognition that major new natural gas development is not opposedto, but rather essential to meet overall environmental objectives,and that such development is urgent in order to keep the neweconomy humming and the old economy working.”

Yergin also spoke of the ongoing California energy crisis, whichhe said could “further damage our already bruised nationaleconomy.” He said the “gamble is bigger than many of theparticipants realize.”

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