As we experience a significant increase in the price of petroleum, energy experts caution us to the coming of a time when easily accessed petroleum will begin to decline. The United States is confronted with the challenge of meeting current energy demands in the face of a declining and unstable energy supply. Alternative Energy systematically explores the most viable alternative sources of energy, discussing the technical, political, economic, and social feasibility of each technology in understandable terms. In addition, the book discusses the history of energy policy, as well as current policy. Intended for courses in energy and public policy, as well as for those interested in developing energy-efficient plans for sustainable communities, Alternative Energy will help laypersons become active participants in making future energy choices for their communities. Includes an interactive model of alternative energy mixes and estimated prices.
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A comprehensive introduction to alternative energy sources and their political, economic, and social feasibility. The topic is important, and there is much of value in Simon's evenhanded presentation of the vulnerabilities and advantages of each source (e.g., geothermal, solar, wind). Simon has produced an accessible, accurate description of how alternative energy sources work and the obstacles to their broader adoption. His book is a significant contribution to the literature. Highly recommended. General readers; students, lower-division undergraduate and up; researchers and practitioners. (Choice )
This book is packed with information on most of the major alternative energy sources. Especially useful will be the end-of-chapter summaries and the references. Controversial subjects are treated with an even hand. (John Reynolds )
Americans face a major challenge in the coming decades of reformulating their public policies to reflect a world in which fossil fuels are no longer plentiful, easily accessible and relatively inexpensive to prepare for market and ultimate consumption. The economics, the basic science, and the cultural and political dynamics associated with public policy reformulation in the area of alternative energy sources are indeed complex--and the challenge is appropriately framed as a 'wicked problem' by Christopher Simon in this excellent monograph. Simon should be commended for his artful framing of this issue, and for his fair and even-handed assessment of the public policy options facing citizens and policymakers alike as we struggle to assure future generations of a quality of life at least as good as that we have enjoyed during our period of stewardship over the planet's resources. I can recommend this well-informed overview of the alternative energy challenges which lie ahead for our country without reservation, and in confidence that the readers of this volume will find it at once informative and insightful. (Nicholas P. Lovrich, Jr. )
This book takes a persuasive, broad view of the coming paradigmatic shift towards a sustainable energy future. Dr. Simon views this transition as the outcome of interactions among market forces of stakeholder dynamics, values evolution and institutional redesign. (T. R. Lakshmanan )
This book is packed with information on most of the major alternative energy sources. Especially useful will be the end-of-chapter summaries and the references. Controversial subjects are treated with an even hand. (John Reynolds )
Americans face a major challenge in the coming decades of reformulating their public policies to reflect a world in which fossil fuels are no longer plentiful, easily accessible and relatively inexpensive to prepare for market and ultimate consumption. The economics, the basic science, and the cultural and political dynamics associated with public policy reformulation in the area of alternative energy sources are indeed complex--and the challenge is appropriately framed as a 'wicked problem' by Christopher Simon in this excellent monograph. Simon should be commended for his artful framing of this issue, and for his fair and even-handed assessment of the public policy options facing citizens and policymakers alike as we struggle to assure future generations of a quality of life at least as good as that we have enjoyed during our period of stewardship over the planet's resources. I can recommend this well-informed overview of the alternative energy challenges which lie ahead for our country without reservation, and in confidence that the readers of this volume will find it at once informative and insightful. (Nicholas P. Lovrich, Jr. )
This book takes a persuasive, broad view of the coming paradigmatic shift towards a sustainable energy future. Dr. Simon views this transition as the outcome of interactions among market forces of stakeholder dynamics, values evolution and institutional redesign. (T. R. Lakshmanan )
About the Author
Christopher A. Simon is associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the author of Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes.
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a very enlightening intro to energy policy.,
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This review is from: Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility (Paperback)
This book was very interesting. It outlines the environments in which laws and energy-governing bodies are made and how they are changed, created, etc. The book shows the different kinds of policies which exist, the history of energy policy in the U.S., difference between bottom-up and top-down policy, and more. It also has separate chapters on each of the different major kinds of renewable alternative energy: solar, wind, geothermal. The author(s) obviously know tons about all of these subjects and related subjects. The book is FULL of citations (which shows they did research and it's not all just conjecture) and refers to related books for further reading. In-line website address citations can be annoying in the text, but still could never detract from the wealth of information in this book. I will strongly suggest anyone to read this book. Now I don't have to say "there should be a law about this" or "why doesn't the government do something about this" because now I know why! In addition, the book was written within the last few years, so it is fairly up-to-date (this review written Jan 5th 2009). When I rented this book, I set out to learn about wind and solar, but ended up learning about wind, solar, energy policy, social concerns, risk assessment, and tons more.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reliable Resource,
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This review is from: Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility (Paperback)
"Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, & Social Feasibility" provided me with a great resource for me as a beginning renewable resource student. Reading the text prepared me thoroughly for my professors' lectures.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility,
This review is from: Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility (Paperback)
The book emphasized on rules, policies, and politics that made the world rethink about our current energy sources. It talked about alternatives energy in a way that other alternative energy book would not discuss such as politics and the policies that effect our current energy sources. The author's main alternative energy sources are wind, geothermal and solar energy. There were many subjects that the author evaluates thoroughly, such as the benefits and detrimental effects of staying with our current energy sources. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in this subject.
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