Lights Out!: Ten Myths About (and Real Solutions to) America's Energy Crisis

by Spencer Abraham, William Tucker

Overview

In this timely book, former Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham debunks the myths that warp our current debate over energy, and offers new solutions to the real problems we face in America.

Drawing on the very latest thinking from experts in industry and academia, and his own experiences running America's Energy Department, he proposes a fresh approach to meeting our daunting energy threats. This book effectively answers how America and the world can overcome the challenges of rising global energy demand, geopolitical disruptions of the energy marketplace, and the environmental impact of producing and using energy. What emerges is a pragmatic energy strategy that calls for blending a variety of energy sources including nuclear, clean coal, solar, wind, and natural gas with a more determined effort at improving energy efficiency through the deployment of smart energy grids and buildings, to help meet our challenges while preserving our economy and environment.

Coming in the midst of a national debate about global warming, energy dependence and rising energy prices and rich with anecdotes from the author's service in the Senate and cabinet, this book is a clarion call that will help shape our energy future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312573942
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/30/2011
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Spencer Abraham was America's 10th and longest serving Secretary of Energy. He was previously a U.S. Senator (R-Mich). He is now the Chairman and CEO of The Abraham Group, an international business/strategic consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. His clients include a number of businesses in the energy sector and he serves on the Boards of several energy and non energy firms.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword xi

Preface xxi

Introduction 1

Book 1 Energy Myths and Facts

1 Ten Myths About Energy 5

2 Energy Realities 25

Book 2 Threats to Our Energy and Environment Security

3 Threats to the Energy Marketplace: It's Supply and Demand, Stupid 41

4 Geopolitical Threats to Energy Markets 50

5 Environmental Threats 59

Book 3 Why We Have Failed to Address Out Energy Security Threats

Introduction 73

6 Mistakes Have Been Made on All Sides 75

7 The Failure of Politics: You Can't Have It Both Ways 87

8 "All We Need Is a New Manhattan Project." 96

9 Relying on One or Two Superfuels Will Not Be Enough 102

Book 4 The Road Ahead

Introduction 117

10 Nuclear Power 130

11 Renewable Energy 152

12 Coal-Time to Start Making It Clean 170

13 Energy Efficiency, Part One: General Strategy 180

14 Energy Efficiency, Part Two: Electrical Grids, Smart and Otherwise 192

15 Making Intelligent Technology Investments 204

16 "Not in My Backyard"-The NIMBY Syndrome 214

17 A Global Energy Strategy 224

Conclusion 234

Bibliography 239

Index 243