Texas and Denmark: Two Very Different Reactions to the 1973 Oil Embargo

Denmark, unlike Texas, is a cornerstone of energy policy.

By Michael MarksNovember 22, 2016 11:30 am,

In 1973, the Arab oil embargo forced countries dependent on foreign oil to reevaluate their energy policies.

This has had lasting effect on the Danish, shaping their current energy policy – one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world.

Jim Malewitz from the Texas Tribune wrote about Denmark’s and Texas’ very different paths after the energy crisis.

Due to the direct dependence on oil in Denmark, the Danish had to find immediate energy alternatives.

“In Denmark, efficiency and energy conservation has become a cornerstone of their daily life,” Malewitz says.

He says Texas is a little different in terms of energy policy. Texas was the first state to create an energy efficiency standard, but the policy hasn’t been updated since its creation in the 1990s.

“It’s just not a cornerstone of energy policy like it is in Denmark,” Malewitz says.

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– How Texas and Denmark reacted to the embargo
– The differences in energy usage between Texas and Denmark

Post by John Flynn.