Prospects for Sustainable Energy : A Critical Assessment

Rating:
Summary: Opening up spaces
Review: Edward Cassedy might not be Rachel Carson but he certainly makes a wonderful case for alternative fuel sources. Ever since September 11, 2001 - it would be difficult to ask for conservation at a time when we need the US economy to grow. Cassedy posits that our fossil fuel base is running out and it is time to look at alternatives - again. This book takes us through the history, configurations, price consequences, and environmental effects of the wide range of choices for what he selectively classifies as "sustainable energy technologies". Cassedy's list includes: solar, biomass, wind, hydropower, geothermal, ocean-energy sources, solar-derived hydrogen fuel, and energy storage. The thesis and goal of this accessible book is to open spaces for decision makers of the choices available for energy - most notably -- sustainable energy. Cassedy writes the book for a wide cross section of backgrounds - some scientific but mostly for folks like you and me with little, if no scientific training. We are currently using this as text for a graduate class exploring the California Power Crisis and it has opened up for us several options to consider. In a duet with Power Loss: The Origins of Deregulation and Restructuring in the American Electric Utility System, by Richard F. Hirsh (....) one can bring the make a critical assessment of the situation's past, present and future.

Miguel Llora