Abstract
Discussions of energy policy frequently focus on economic concerns- and with some validity. Energy consumption has been tied to economic and public well-being for decades, and policymakers have generally felt that economic growth drove increased energy consumption and vice-versa. To create energy policy based largely on economic factors, however, misses important nuances in the way people perceive and pursue energy options. As Langdon Winner presciently noted in 1982, an obsession with economic indicators and cost-benefit analyses among policymakers obscures historical and social concerns that influence energy policy. He observed that the emphasis on improving traditional economic indicators has hidden discussions about power relationships among people, government institutions, and businesses in a manner that hinders the application of democratic principles. In short, Winner argues that energy policy remains shortsighted about noneconomic considerations.