rewrite The early 1980s saw a sharp increase in global oil prices, due to a number of factors including the Iranian Revolution and the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War. This had a major impact on Exxon's business, as the company was forced to raise prices and cut back on production in order to stay profitable. In response to the higher oil prices, Exxon shifted its focus away from energy research and towards finding ways to reduce its reliance on oil. The company's research efforts led to the development of a number of alternative energy technologies, including solar power, wind power, and nuclear power. Exxon changed course in the early 1980s in response to the sharp increase in global oil prices. The company shifted its focus away from energy research and towards finding ways to reduce its reliance on oil. Exxon's research efforts led to the development of a number of alternative energy technologies, including solar power, wind power, and nuclear power