Energy Crisis Root Cause:
Immigration-Fueled Population Growth

Staggering Census 2000 Results
– 6 Million more than Census Bureau Projected –

283 Million and Counting at the Rate of 3.2 Million Per Year

Figures recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau shockingly revealed a population of 281.4 million (as of April 1, 2000), up 13.2% or nearly 33 million from 248.7 million in 1990. This number is over 6 million more than the Census Bureau earlier projected for the decade and surpasses even the highest projection series the Census Bureau estimated in February, 2000. Actual numbers, rather than estimates, confirm that U.S. population will soar to 500 million by 2050 or sooner, IF current trends of fertility and immigration continue.

Mass immigration is the driving force behind this unprecedented and environmentally damaging surge in our population. Immigration and the children born to recent immigrants accounted for 70% of U.S. population growth during the 1990s, and this share is on track to increase if mass immigration does not stop.

So far as U.S. population growth is concerned, the fertility rates of native-born American women have been almost a non-issue for over 25 years. Since 1974, native-born women have averaged less than 2.1 children per woman, which is the replacement rate. Without immigration, the U.S. population would be on track to stabilize, as has occurred in other industrialized countries. With immigration, population will continue until halted by natural or economic emergencies -- such as, for example, interruption in the supply of cheap energy.

Legal immigration accounts for nearly three-fourths of total immigration to the U.S., which is why a moratorium on immigration in excess of 100,000 is the only viable way to stabilize U.S. population. If our country experiences the same growth rate it did throughout the 1990's, we will reach a population of 318 million by 2010, 360 million by 2020.....and over 500 million by 2050 (see enclosed graph).

Population Growth Drives Energy Crisis

Many Americans have managed to decrease energy consumption. For example, per capita electricity use in California has actually declined over the last twenty years. Nevertheless, an energy crisis has tightened its grip across the nation. Heating bills have soared almost everywhere and rolling blackouts involuntarily cutting off power are becoming routine in the west. Immigration-generated population growth has fueled this energy shortage and driven up energy costs by drastically increasing total consumption.

In California, the state with the largest gain in population and the most serious energy shortage, mass immigration accounted for 96% of population growth between 1990 and 1997. Immigrants now account for over 25% of California's total population. In the nation as a whole, immigration accounts for over 10% of the population (the largest percentage in 70 years, and the largest number, ever!).

Proposed solutions to the energy crisis have included loosening pollution and energy-exploration restrictions, building nuclear power plants to increase output, and importing even more energy sources from abroad. Most environmental groups fight relentlessly against these proposals for increasing energy supply. Nevertheless, the alternative, which is to limit the growth in demand (i.e. from population growth itself), is widely ignored. That is, most environmentalists, economists, and politicians ignore a primary cause of America’s energy shortage: our nation’s burgeoning population.

Mass Immigration Strips States of Congressional Representation

If you live in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecticut, Mississippi, or Oklahoma, you also suffered a loss in political clout. The reason is that massive immigration has shifted congressional seats to southern and western states that are primary immigrant destinations. Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, and Arizona have been declared the so-called "political winners" of Census 2000.

The environment and quality of life are the real losers as both open spaces and man-made infrastructure succumb to increasing pollution, resource depletion, urban sprawl*, traffic and residential congestion, higher taxes, and the energy shortage that accompany skyrocketing population growth.

*ATTENTION SIERRA CLUB MEMBERS! If you are a member of the Sierra Club, remember to vote YES! on the population-sprawl ballot question this March. This will request the Club’s campaign to emphasize both better land use and the need to address population growth (sprawl’s "root" cause) in fighting sprawl’s destructive impacts on our environment and quality of life in the U.S. (visit www.SUSPS.org for further information).

Population Projections: Trends and Explanations

• The dotted line represents the projected population growth of the U.S. using the 13.2% growth rate of the 1990s, as determined by the 2000 Census (www.census.gov). This would correspond to a population of over 360 million by 2020.....500 million by 2050.........and nearly 1 billion by 2100, fast approaching the present population of China.

• The red section represents the projected population growth resulting from post-1970 immigrants and their descendants. This line uses the Center for Immigration Studies figure that immigration currently accounts for 70% of growth. As we continue to maintain replacement-level fertility (which we have since 1974) over a generation, this percentage will continue to increase, if current trends persist.

• The blue section represents the projected population growth resulting from pre-1970 immigrants, plus the native born and their offspring. This percentage of population growth would continue to decline as we maintain replacement level fertility. Without immigration, we would be on pace to stabilize our population in approximately the next 30 years.

False Hope: Alternative Energy Sources Alone
Will Not Solve the Energy Crisis

• In 1999, renewable energy technologies provided less than 8% of total U.S. energy needs (Department of Energy).

• Using 30% of US land area (larger than the total U.S. cropland area), renewable energy technologies such as biomass energy, photovoltaics, hyrdoelectric, wind power, solar thermal, and fuel cells would supply less than half of all current U.S. energy consumption (David Pimentel, Cornell University).

We Must Stabilize U.S. Population!

As long as mass immigration continues, our energy crisis will worsen and the demands on our environment and finite resource base will continue to increase. The need for more energy or some equally serious supply/demand imbalance will drive further exploitation of the environment and worsen the quality of life. The carrying capacity of the U.S., already probably stretched beyond its limit, may be irreparably harmed.

BALANCE’s SOLUTION

In order to protect the environment and quality of life for our nation and our children, it is essential that we stabilize our population. BALANCE calls for a 5-year moratorium on all immigration in excess of 100,000 as the most immediate first step to stabilizing U.S. population and preserving the environment. After the five years, immigration would then be increased to a replacement level 200,000 annually.

TAKE ACTION:

• With the recent swearing-in of the new Congress, the time to act is now. Contact your members of Congress and inform them of the alarming Census 2000 results. Urge them to introduce an Immigration Moratorium Bill in the new session, including an all-inclusive moratorium on all immigration in excess of 100,000 per year.

Contact Congress Today

• Since most of the Big Media have refused to address the connections among immigration, population growth, and environmental degradation, it is important to contact your local media outlets and press them to address the issue. Letters to the Editor and calls to radio/TV stations are some of the most effective ways to do this.

• Continue to increase grassroots support. Contact local organizations with which you may be involved and urge them to pass resolutions calling for a moratorium on immigration. Keep BALANCE updated on your efforts and let us know if we can be of assistance (we will be happy to provide sample resolutions).

• HELP SOLVE THE ENERGY CRISIS - DONATE TO BALANCE TODAY. Your continued assistance is urgently needed to help make real progress in the narrow window of opportunity a new administration and Congress provides. Your invaluable support will allow us to continue to produce educational materials for activists and members of Congress, intensify our efforts in pushing a Moratorium on immigration, and increase grassroots support across the country. The arguments, facts, and public opinion are stacked on our side, but unfortunately the money is not. By generating enough grassroots support from generous, caring people such as you, we will be able to circumvent the Big Money influence of Special Interests and help ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. We greatly appreciate your past support, but it is crucial that you make a special donation at this critical time.

• TRIPLE YOUR IMPACT! Giving a gift membership of $25 or more today will 1) expand our base of support, 2) increase our political clout for legislative efforts, and 3) help spread our message. This is a great way to get friends and family involved and help BALANCE at the same time.