|
The Jevons Paradox suggests precisely the opposite, so long as electricity becomes cheaper to consume. That is: the lower the cost of a thing, the greater the induced demand, and hence, the greater to total use. William Stanley Jevons, an engineer and economist, first observed this concerning coal, in the 1860s. You'll find this expressed in Jevons' preface to the 2nd edition of his book: A further class of opponents feel the growing power of coal, but repose upon the notion that economy in its use will rescue us. If coal become twice as dear as it is, but our engines are made to produce twice as much result with the same coal, the cost of steam-power will remain as before. These opponents, however, overlook two prime points of the subject. They forget that economy of fuel lead to a great increase of consumption, as shown in the chapter on the subject; and, secondly, they forget that other nations can use improved engines as well as ourselves, so that our comparative position will not be much improved. https://archive.org/stream/coalquestioninqu00jevo#page/n37/m... |