1 INTRODUCTION - STATEMENT OF ISSUE AND PURPOSE OF THIS WHITE PAPER Consumption of the Earth’s fossil and nuclear energy reserves has grown rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century. This growth in consumption, coupled with rapidly increasing prices for these finite resources, has stimulated widespread interest in the exploitation of renewable sources of electric energy. One technology that has been proposed for development is the Satellite Power System (SPS). According to this concept, large satellites in geosynchronous orbit would collect solar energy and convert it to electric energy in space. When beamed to Earth in the form of microwaves, this energy would be collected at receiving antennae and rectified to DC power for distribution through the grid. The SPS concept involves a complex program that encompasses development of the following elements: the satellite power station, space transportation systems to provide for construction of the satellite stations, microwave power transmission, and ground receiving and distribution. The Baseline System Concept developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) calls for a scenario of implementing two 5-GW SPS systems per year (10 GW) for 30 years, beginning with an initial operational date of the year 2000 for the first unit. Attainment of this scenario would result in an SPS generating capacity of 300-GW in the year 2030 and require capital investment of $718 to $793 billion in 1977 dollars.1 Based on present estimates, such an SPS system would contribute a significant portion of the total U.S. installed electrical capacity by 2030.2 Before committing the U.S. to such a large program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA are jointly participating in an SPS Concept Development and Evaluation Program. This evaluation program includes four functional study areas: (1) systems definition, (2) evaluation of environmental, health, and safety factors, (3) related socioeconomic issues, and (4) comparative assessment of alternative energy systems. Preliminary program recommendations are to be made by May, 1979, and final program recommendations will be presented in June, 1980.1 This white paper on industrial and population relocation is part of the preliminary evaluation of related socioeconomic issues that is being carried out in FY 1978 to determine research directions for FY 1979. Overall, the socioeconomic evaluation comprises twelve white papers that assess different
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