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By John Ptlhnick
President Jimmy Carter's speech to
Congress Wednesday outlining the details
of lis energy program was timely and need
ed, but it will take awhile for the American
people to accept the proposals, according
to several university officials' contacted,
after the speech.
Don Edwards, director of the Engineer-
fcg Research Center, said something had to
be done witlf the energy crisis and Ameri
cans must change the way they are using
their energy supplies.
"The energy we use today is gone for
ever," Edwards said. "We are going to have
to use renewable resources, such as solar
and wind energy, because our natural gas
supplies are depleting fast."
Vincent Dreeszen, director of the Con
servation and Survey Division, said Carter's
program allows flexibility for energy con
servation. He said the program brings out
the need for - awareness , that there is a
definite energy problem because petroleum
resources are finite. v
Dreeszen said that as a geologist, he has
known for years that energy sources would
become scarce.
Disagrees with proposal
Tom Ny cum , assistant to the director of
the UNL physical plant, said Carter's
speech Wednesday was just what he expect
ed, but he disagreed with Carter's proposals
to restructure electricity rates.
Nycum said he does not like taxes on
gas-guzzling cars, and Americans should
force Detroit to make smaller cars.
.. "What we really need are economic in
centives for more oil production and find
ing new energy sources," Nycum said.
"Supply and demand should find itself in
the oil market."
v Dreeszen said there should be some
government decontrol of oil prices, but he
dees not like the idea of totally decontrol
ing oil prices.
"The pressnt image of-the oil companies
is not fair and blaming bur energy cirsis on
the oil companies is ridiculous," he said.
"But it's popular and easy to place the
blame on them."
Edwards said he favors placing oil prices
on the free market jsnd making Americans ;
realize the days of 'cheap, plentiful energy
sources are over.
. May need restraints
"It may mean getting rough with the
American people," Edwards said. "We may
' need some restraints, some disincentive for
people from being so wasteful." V
rr ; 1
Edwards said Americans were conscious
of saving energy during the Arab Oil
embargo in 1973-74, but now have gone
back to fheir wasteful ways.
"In the first quarter of 1976, big cars
outsold little cars, and today, the need for
big cars in the United States is few and far
between, and there is no reason Americans
need their large cars," he said.
Dreeszen said any energy program must
be flexible .because the easily accessible oil
and gas supplies already have been
supplied. He said if offshore drilling is en
couraged, the country must choose be
tween scarce energy supplies and environ
mental concerns.
"We do have reserves, and will find
them if the price is right," Dreeszen said.
"I don't think Carter's program makes it
very clear on how these reserves will be
developed."
Dreeszen said Carter's speech gives the
public a choice to handle the energy crisis
and it was a good psychological 'and
political move.
Patience needed
"I don't think the idea of energy con
servation has soaked in with the American
public yet," he said. "You have to have
patience when you deal with people. They
have been alerted to the crisis for rr.:ny
years and this msy start an awareness of
the crisis."
Dreeszen said the public's acceptance of
Carter's program will take lcngsr than
Carter expects, but Americans are adapt
able and will respond to t crisis.
Edwards said from the figures he has
seen, he sees no way the United States can '
keep on wasting energy without serious
consequences.
"Unless we make changes now, we've
got many problems" ahead of us and the
lessons will become more frequent and
more harsh," he said. "We need to get
going today ca conserving energy and
President, Carter has given the public a
chance to straiten up without accepting
anything too-harsh."
Edward3 said Americans can keep their
present lifestyle, and even improve it, if
they are willing to- use less energy and be
concerned with energy conservation.
Nycum said he does not expect great
social change because of the energy short
age. ' Cettsr formation
He said the biggest way the university
can save money and prevent energy loss is
through better insulation in buildings. The
university is working in- many areas to save
energy, he said. " '
"We are doing basically inexpensive
things, such as refitting windows, fixing
roofs and making sure mechanical systems
in every building are working properly to
save energy," he said.
Nycum said the physical plant is doing a
campus lighting survey to determine how
much lighting is necessary. Students survey
the existing lighting and determine its
function, and check the lighting level re
quired for the room during the day and
night.
"Limiting can be readily seen as a
conservation source," Nycum said. "Any
time someone turns " lights off, it will
help. We need the students and the pro
fessors to be aware of lighting waste. We
have to have everyone's help."
Edwards said the public will have to be
more energy conscious, and because Ne
braska imports 95 per cent of its energy,
everyone must "work as a team to solve tie
enerrv problem. -V"
"President Carter has given us a long
term commitment to conserving energy,"
Edwards said. "It's not just for this
summer and then we forget it. We're all
going to have to do things differently."
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