Energy Production and Alternative Energy

by Miller, Debra A.

• ISBN13: 9780737751062
• ISBN10: 0737751061
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-11-09
• Publisher: Greenhaven Pr

Summary

Greenhaven Press's Confronting Global Warming series explores current and future challenges facing the planet due to climate change. The series covers the full range of climate change impacts-including water, population, nature, and health and disease-and the various essential components of any solution, such as energy production and alternative energy, the role of the government, the role of industry, and the role of the individual. Each volume examines the current status of the topic being covered, highlights key future challenges, explores potential or proposed solutions for dealing with the results of climate change, and presents the pros and cons of such solutions.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 1
Foreword	p. 3
Energy and Global Warming: An Introduction	p. 10
The Fossil Fuel Era	p. 11
The Global Warming Problem	p. 14
Solutions to Energy-Related Global Warming	p. 15
Chart: Global Anthropogenic GHG Emissions, 1970-2004	p. 16
Sidebar: A Global Warming Emergency?	p. 18
Notes	p. 19
The World's Reliance on Fossil Fuels: Current Energy Usage	p. 21
Fossil Fuels and Carbon Emissions	p. 21
Countries Responsible for Carbon Emissions	p. 23
U.S. Energy Usage	p. 25
Chart: U.S. Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector, 2008	p. 26
Growing Energy Demands and Emissions	p. 28
Sidebar: Global Warming and Peak Oil	p. 29
Notes	p. 30
Cutting Fossil Fuel Emissions	p. 31
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol	p. 31
Prospects for U.S. Emission Cuts	p. 33
Graph: Net Emission Reductions Under Cap-and-Trade Proposals in the 111th Congress, 2005-2050	p. 34
U.S. Regulatory Efforts	p. 36
Improving Energy Efficiency	p. 37
Geoengineering Solutions	p. 38
Individual Lifestyle Changes	p. 40
Sidebar: The Energy Star Program	p. 41
Notes	p. 41
Bridge Strategies: Low-Emission Energy Sources	p. 43
Natural Gas as a Transition Fuel	p. 43
Map: Major U.S. Natural Gas Shale Beds	p. 44
The Clean Coal Debate	p. 46
Nuclear Power	p. 48
Sidebar: France-A Leader in Nuclear Power	p. 49
Methane Energy	p. 51
Notes	p. 52
Developing Clean and Renewable Electrical Energy	p. 54
Solar Energy	p. 55
Wind Power	p. 56
Sidebar: Clean Energy in Malawi	p. 58
Geothermal Energy	p. 59
Energy from Water	p. 61
Table: U.S. Electricity from Renewable Energy by Sector, 2004-2008	p. 63
Notes	p. 64
Reinventing Transportation Energy	p. 66
Biofuels	p. 66
Sidebar: Brazil's Flex-Fuel Auto Industry	p. 68
Hydrogen Fuel Cells	p. 71
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles	p. 73
Illustration: How Hybrids Work	p. 73
Notes	p. 76
Achieving a Clean Energy Economy	p. 77
Encouraging Investments in Clean Energy	p. 77
Sidebar: Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards	p. 79
A New Clean-Energy Policy	p. 80
The Role of Carbon Caps	p. 80
Creating Green Jobs	p. 82
Map: Clean-Energy Jobs by State, 2007	p. 83
Economic Impact	p. 84
Notes	p. 87
Challenges in the Search for Clean Energy	p. 88
Technological Challenges	p. 88
Infrastructure Needs	p. 89
Table: Today's Electrical Grid and Tomorrow's	p. 90
Political Obstacles	p. 92
Environmental Concerns	p. 93
Winning the Global Race Toward Clean Energy	p. 95
Sidebar: China and Clean Energy	p. 96
Notes	p. 97
Conclusion	p. 99
Notes	p. 101
Glossary	p. 102
For Further Research	p. 108
Index	p. 114
About the Author	p. 124
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