A passionate, but not ideological, argument that offers a practical approach to solving real problems.” —Kirkus Reviews
“An enthusiastic account and a great starting point for readers curious about sustainable, worldwide electricity.” —Library Journal
“Jim Rogers-one of the most creative and forward-thinking shapers of the US electric system-offers an inspired vision of how electrification in the developing world will transform lives, just as it continues to improve our lives here. His compelling vision highlights the interdependence of these two diverse worlds: adoption of advanced, clean technologies in the developing world will accelerate that adoption in advanced economies, helping all of us meet the global challenge of climate change. Written for the layman—yet the technician, the inventor, and the entrepreneur will all appreciate Rogers' recognition of the profound contribution their work makes to the human condition.” —Phil Sharp, President, Resources for the Future
“In Lighting the World, Jim Rogers treats us to two books in one: a gripping journey around the dramatic world of energy for the poor combined with a fascinating account of what it takes to run and innovate a major U.S. utility.” —Dan Kammen, Professor of Energy, Energy and Resources Group & Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California
“With the evangelizing feel of a TED talk, former energy exec Rogers makes his provocative case for powering up the Third World.” —Discover Magazine
“In Lighting the World, Jim Rogers shows that in practical and economic ways, we can provide low-cost but effective existing technologies to the homes and villages of 1.2 billion people who have no access to modern electricity and communication services, and in so doing, work millions of small miracles in these impoverished places. Based on his experience in running one of the largest electricity providers in the world, he offers the realities of both the primitive and most advanced energy systems and makes a powerful case that we should hurry the day when modern electricity, the energy form of choice for almost all purposes, is provided cleanly and more simply everywhere.” —Timothy E. Wirth, Vice Chairman and President Emeritus, The United Nations Foundation
“Inspiring and hopeful.” —The Charlotte Observer
“Rogers calls for new steps by governments, financial institutions and entrepreneurs to bring light to remote areas in Africa and other regions where flickering candles and dangerous kerosene lamps are often the only options at night.” —USA Today
07/01/2015
Although simplistic in some ways, this book is a highly accessible introduction to the problem of worldwide electrification. Rogers, a former CEO of Duke Energy, knows the business, and Williams (How To Be President) has personal experience living in unelectrified regions. Rogers focuses on bringing renewable energy to the rural poor around the world, and most of his examples come from outland Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. The descriptions of emerging, renewable technologies such as solar and hydrogen are informative and nontechnical. He does a solid job explaining how modern coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric plants work and imagines a world not only with lots of electricity but an abundance of electric companies. These businesses might be small and locally owned, but Rogers continually returns to the idea of setting up a for-profit industry that installs and maintains the power-generating equipment. While the need to work with local communities, adapt to customs, and hire local employees, is emphasized, Rogers's approach is capitalistic. VERDICT An enthusiastic account and a great starting point for readers curious about sustainable, worldwide electricity.—Cate Hirschbiel, Iwasaki Lib., Emerson Coll., Boston
2015-05-20
The former chairman, president, and CEO of Duke Energy, the largest electric power company in the United States, argues that access to clean, sustainable electricity should be a basic human right. Without access to electricity, education, health care, efficient farming, and development are barely conceivable. One out of every 6 people worldwide (1.5 billion total) lack any access to electricity. Another 1.5 billion have limited access. Discussing income equality, equal rights for women, and other issues without talking about electricity, writes Rogers, "is a huge blind spot." Everyone, he insists, will benefit from dramatically reducing the use of expensive and polluting kerosene and firewood and improving health and educational levels. The primarily coal-based supply systems of North America and Western Europe, which India and China are instituting, will not provide a sustainable solution. What is needed, Rogers argues, is "a new way to deliver [electricity] that doesn't involve the heavy pollution of power plants, or the complex grid of electrical wires." The author presents case studies from India and Africa to show how small-scale solar power and battery-storage combinations are being used to provide light and cellphone charger capabilities at the village level. Rogers also examines installer education, maintenance, and payment systems, developing the case for power generation by way of franchises and locally authorized monopolies. As he notes, for remote rural villages, central generating and long-range grid distribution are not practical. Rogers provides a comprehensive overview of sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Indonesia as potential major contributors to the needed post-coal redesign of electrical production and distribution in America and Europe. He compares fuel sources and generating technologies in light of the challenges of reducing carbon emissions and global warming, and he both points out the problems and ranks proposed solutions. A passionate, but not ideological, argument that offers a practical approach to solving real problems.
