Energy Geography

ENERGY GEOGRAPHY IS a subdiscipline of geography that draws from many philosophical and thematic traditions, but it is primarily positioned in the interface of environmental and economic concerns. The extraction, harnessing, and consumption of the natural resources that supply society with our energy needs have always been central to economic activities. Over time, however, it has also become apparent that we face scarcity of resources and negative consequences of pollution, and the environmental component of energy analysis has grown stronger. As such, the focus on energy in geography is important because it addresses one of the central aspects of the discipline—the human environment interaction.

Energy can be defined as the capacity for, or equivalent of, doing work. Society needs energy for transportation, heating and cooling of buildings, powering production processes in industry, and various household needs. Sources of energy are classified as renewable or nonrenewable. Nonrenewable is primarily fossil fuels: oil, coal, and natural gas. More than 80 percent of U.S. energy needs are satisfied by fossil fuel. Renewable energy sources include hydro-electric, solar, and wind power. Nuclear power occupies a special position not commonly classified as either renewable or non-renewable. Often, the energy source itself has to be converted to a usable form. The most common and versatile form is electricity, which is generated in coalfired power plants, nuclear plants, or hydroelectric dams. In the transportation sector, gasoline and other oil derivatives directly power the combustion engine. Another example of this direct use is when natural gas is utilized for home heating.

Energy geography may not be as well defined as economic or cultural geography. For example, courses in energy geography are infrequent in geography departments around the country, although energy issues are often addressed in other forums. Geographers’ interest in energy has mirrored the developments in society at large. With the advent of the environmental movement in the 1960s and 1970s, and the subsequent oil crisis and surging energy costs, energy studies became increasingly popular in the 1970s in geography as well as in the research community in general. After the immediate crisis, energy concerns were not prioritized, but socioeconomic and technical solutions continue to make our energy system more efficient. There is still much work to be done, however, and in this endeavor, geographers can be found not only in academic departments but also in government agencies and laboratories and in private industry.