The Powers That Be

by Montgomery, Scott L.

• ISBN13: 9780226535005
• ISBN10: 0226535002
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-07-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Thirty years ago, our global energy landscape did not look remarkably different from what it does today. Three or four decades from now, it certainly will: dwindling oil reserves will clash with skyrocketing demand, as developing nations around the world lead their citizens into the modern energy economy, and all the while, the grave threat of catastrophic climate change looms ever larger. Energy worries are at an all-time highjust howwillwe power our future? WithThe Powers That Be, Scott L. Montgomery cuts through the hype, alarmism, and confusion to give us a straightforward, informed account of where we are now, and a map of where we're going. Starting with the inescapable fact of our current dependence on fossil fuelswhich supply 80% of all our energy needs todayMontgomery clearly and carefully lays out the many alternative energy options available, ranging from the familiar, like water and solar, to such nascent but promising sources as hydrogen and geothermal power. What is crucial, Montgomery explains, is understanding that our future will depend not on some single, wondrous breakthrough; instead, we should focus on developing a more diverse, adaptable energy future, one that draws on a variety of sourcesand is thus less vulnerable to disruption or failure. An admirably evenhanded and always realistic guide, Montgomery enables readers to understand the implications of energy funding, research, and politics at a global scale. At the same time, he doesn't neglect the ultimate connection between those decisions and the average citizen flipping a light switch or sliding behind the wheel of a car, makingThe Powers That Beindispensible for our ever-more energy conscious age.

Author Biography

Scott L. Montgomery is a consulting geologist and independent scholar, and the author of The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science and Science in Translation, both published by the University of Chicago Press.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
What Binds Us All	p. 1
Our Energy Past: Does It Hold Any Lessons?	p. 14
Our Energy Present: Global Trends and What They Mean	p. 30
Oil Reality: Burning Questions	p. 53
Natural Gas: The Lighter Side of Fossil Fuels	p. 81
Coal: Once and Future King?	p. 94
The Great Debate: When Will the Wells Run Dry?	p. 111
Nuclear Power: A New Context, Changing Views	p. 127
Renewable Energy 1: The Real and the Possible	p. 149
Renewable Energy 2: Sources, Technologies, Limitations	p. 162
Hydrogen: Forever Fuel, or Wishful Thinking?	p. 184
Fusion Energy: Some Like It Hot	p. 199
Geopolitics and Energy: An Evolving Geography	p. 213
The Technology Imperative: Some Reflections	p. 241
Climate Change and Energy: Playing with Fire, Air, Earth, and Water	p. 264
Conclusion: Final Thoughts on New Beginnings	p. 285
Notes	p. 299
Index	p. 329
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