Energy myths and realities bringing science to the energy policy debate
Myth: New energy sources and technical innovations will eliminate the need for fossil fuels within a few decades. Reality: Comprehensive energy transitions take several generations. Myth: Carbon sequestration is the solution to global climate change. Reality: Because of its costs, technical challeng...
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| Format: | Books Print Book |
| Language: | English |
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Washington, D.C. : Lanham, Md. :
AEI Press ; Distributed by Rowman & Littlefield,
c2010.
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Table of Contents:
- Introduction: Lost opportunities ; Persistent myths ; Challenging the myths
- pt. I: Lessons from the past : 1. The future belongs to electric cars ; Electric- versus gasoline-powered cars ; Recent history of electric cars ; Recent electric models ; Electric cars and the supply of electricity ; More efficient gasoline engines
- 2. Nuclear electricity will be too cheap to meter : Peaceful uses of nuclear fusion ; Retreat from nuclear power ; Hope for Fast Breeder Reactors ; New case for nuclear energy ; Successful failure
- 3. Soft-energy illusions : Advantages of soft energy ; Soft energy today ; The hypercar ; Other soft-energy dreams ; Soft energy in China ; The "perfect" solution ; The future of soft and small approaches
- pt. II: Myths in the headlines : 4. Running out: peak oil and its meaning : Predictions of peak oil production ; Untapped resources ; Nonconventional oil reserves ; Production, demand, and prices ; Countering the claims of Peak-Oilers
- 5. Sequestration of carbon dioxide : Organic approaches ; Technical fixes ; The energy penalty on sequestration
- 6. Liquid fuels from plants : Liquid fuels for transportation ; Corn-based ethanol ; Sugar cane-based ethanol ; Impacts of ethanol production ; Cellulosic ethanol, "a huge new source of energy" ; Biofuels, an inappropriate solution
- 7. Electricity from wind : Evolution of wind power ; Estimated potential wind power ; Key constraints of wind power ; Realizing the potential of wind power
- 8. The pace of energy transitions : Present realities ; Past transitions ; Why energy transitions are gradual ; The repowering challenge ; False analogy
- Conclusion: lessons and policy implications : Electric vehicles ; Nuclear power ; Soft-energy conversions ; Peak oil ; Carbon sequestration ; Crop-based ethanol ; Wind-powered electricity generation ; Energy transitions ; A quick summation.
