Marilyn A. Brown - Böcker

Current events related to energy policy – skyrocketing gasoline prices, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, the Kyoto Protocol’s enactment, passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the influence of recent Gulf Coast hurricanes on energy supplies and prices – demand innovative approaches towards conceptualizing the relationship between energy and American society. This book takes on a central quandary in the study of energy and environmental policy: What myths continue to exist in American culture concerning energy, the environment, and society? It enrolls twenty-four of the nation’s top experts working on energy policy in industry, government laboratories, utilities, nonprofit organizations, and universities to debunk and contextualize thirteen energy myths relating to electric power, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, and climate change. While the book focuses on the American experience, it will be of interest to those working in the fields of energy policy, energy and the environment, and technology assessment worldwide. ‘This is a brilliant, bold, and fascinating book …that should be read by anybody even remotely concerned about energy, the environment, or the future of American society.’Art Rosenfeld, Commissioner, California Energy Commission and recipient of the 2006 Enrico Fermi Award ‘…This work is a must-read for anyone interested in American energypolicy.’Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy‘…By collecting the best minds to debunk the greatest of these myths, Sovacool and Brown have brought us a step closer to finding a national energy policy based on common sense.’Chris Cooper, Executive Director, Network for New Energy Choices ‘… Sovacool and Brown provide a bold and imaginative way forward.’John A. "Skip" Laitner, Visiting Fellow and Senior Economist, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Energy sustainability and climate change are two of the greatest challenges facing humankind. Unraveling these complex and interconnected issues demands careful and objective assessment. Fact and Fiction in Global Energy Policy aims to change the prevailing discourse by examining fifteen core energy questions from a variety of perspectives, demonstrating how, for each of them, no clear-cut answer exists. Is industry the chief energy villain? Can we sustainably feed and fuel the planet at the same time? Is nuclear energy worth the risk? Should geoengineering be outlawed? Touching on pollution, climate mitigation and adaptation, energy efficiency, government intervention, and energy security, the authors explore interrelated concepts of law, philosophy, ethics, technology, economics, psychology, sociology, and public policy. This book offers a much-needed critical appraisal of the central energy technology and policy dilemmas of our time and the impact of these on multiple stakeholders.

This landmark work lauds the benefits of decreased energy consumption, investigating its relationship to public policy and analyzing its potential billion-dollar benefits to the U.S. economy.U.S. consumers tend to use energy indiscriminately—something they may no longer be able to do with impunity. This game-changing book asserts that reducing energy consumption should be a frontline strategy to address global climate change, threats to energy security, and the challenge of grid reliability. The book supports two bold arguments: that policies motivating greater investment in high energy efficiency should be a priority, and that energy efficiency can help the nation in times of crisis. To make their case for the necessity of prioritizing demand reduction, the authors examine the policies and markets operating in a number of leading cities, states, and nations across the globe to uncover the keys to their success. These examples show how demand-side strategies can significantly reduce pollution, cut costs, and make the electric grid more resilient. The authors explain why these technologies are not widely adopted and assess the potential savings they can produce. The book will be an eye-opener for policymakers, energy professionals, and the public as it demonstrates how cost-effective demand reduction policies can improve air quality, strengthen electricity markets, and generate jobs.

“In Energy Technology and Policy Innovation, the reader will receive an expert, practical, and immediately applicable set of tools to analyze the decisions – technical, economic, political, and social – that arise every time an energy technology or energy system decision needs to be made.”—Daniel M. Kammen, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Energy, Johns Hopkins UniversityThis book examines the challenge of achieving a clean, secure, and prosperous energy transition effectively and equitably and explains how society’s reliance on fossil fuels contributes to climate change. To tackle this challenge, the authors address tough questions and explore solutions for transitioning to cleaner energy sources, using energy more efficiently, and implementing nature-based solutions.This classroom-tested text provides students with a solid understanding of current energy markets and how they could evolve with the adoption of alternative technologies and policies. It covers the mechanisms that promote change, focusing on a polycentric governance approach and the roles of public policy, science, and innovation, as well as social, cultural, and business-based movements. Major topics include the science of climate change, the role of energy in the economy, environmental externalities, cost-benefit analysis, policy instrument choices, systems and frameworks, justice and equity, technology learning curves, and policy diffusion. An introduction to key frameworks, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and modeling enable students to engage in the debate around energy policy, technology issues, and data analytics.Energy Technology and Policy Innovation is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, energy industry professionals, policymakers, scientists, and concerned citizens interested in environmental and energy engineering, sustainability, or climate science who want an introduction to energy technologies, environmental science, public policies, and markets for sustainable products and services.Provides readers with an introduction to key concepts along with numerous figures, graphics, and case studies;Offers an illustration of cost-benefit analysis and descriptions of core scientific principles;Includes calculations and quizzes, essay questions, and qualitative assignments, along with an instructor’s manual.