trol over energy source and use. The need of SPS for large investments of public monies before it becomes operational, makes it a particular target in this philosophical debate. However, I believe that it is not in the nation's best interest to choose between the centralized or decentralized approaches in energy, but rather to employ each where it is most efficient. A great variety of energy sources, technologies, and systems will be needed for the future. Everything from windmills and solar hot water heaters to nuclear and coal plants will help shoulder the burden. All creditable ideas for new technologies should be considered and explored. The most promising will be demonstrated to prove their feasibility, both economically and environmentally. Solar Power Satellites hold great promise for tapping the sun's unlimited energy. They too will have to meet demonstrated safety and economic requirements. The advent of space exploration has provided a new dimension in the realm of human capability. It has broken the constraints of earth-based solutions to the world's problems. In our new search to replace the world's fossil fuel resources as our energy mainstay, we will increasingly look beyond the confines of our planet to the far reaches of space in the hopes that our growing knowledge of the space environment will provide new and innovative solutions.
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