The Great Energy Debate

Western Australia is one of the world's great energy and mineral provinces, and much of its economic history has been shaped by the interaction between mineral-industry developments and government policy. A central feature of this experience has been avoidance of market mechanisms, and excessive reliance on detailed regulation to achieve policy goals. With decisions about future energy policy imminent, The Great Energy Debate provides a timely analysis of the importance of energy costs to the whole Western Australian economy. It lays down benchmarks against which policy proposals can be measured, and raises questions such as: How much competition (and regulation) should there be in the electricity industry to promote the future development of the State? What are the linkages between large mineral, and mineral-processing projects and the rest of the State's economy? How can Western Australia have a competitive and cost-effective energy sector? The Great Energy Debate not only examines future energy projects, but also makes some provocative proposals for the reform of energy policy in Western Australia.

We have been making use of different energy sources for thousands of years. But we are using more energy now than ever, and we wonder about the future. Fossil fuels may run out, and scientists are looking for other sources of energy. Will nuclear, wind, solar, water, biomass, or geothermal energy be our future? Or does the future of energy lie in a combination of sources? You decide!

U.S. News and World Report, Inc. presents "The Great Energy Debate," a social studies lesson for high school classes. This lesson is based on "Pumped for More Drilling, " an article from the February 12, 2001 issue of "U.S. News Classroom." The lesson requires the students to analyze the issues concerning the energy plan proposed by U.S. President George W. Bush (1946- ). U.S. News highlights the lesson procedures and provides discussion questions, a printable copy of the article, and a list of pertinent vocabulary.

A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. "I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years. —Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

Over roughly the past decade, oil and gas production in the United States has surged dramatically—thanks largely to technological advances such as high-volume hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as “fracking.” This rapid increase has generated widespread debate, with proponents touting economic and energy-security benefits and opponents highlighting the environmental and social risks of increased oil and gas production. Despite the heated debate, neither side has a monopoly on the facts. In this book, Daniel Raimi gives a balanced and accessible view of oil and gas development, clearly and thoroughly explaining the key issues surrounding the shale revolution. The Fracking Debate directly addresses the most common questions and concerns associated with fracking: What is fracking? Does fracking pollute the water supply? Will fracking make the United States energy independent? Does fracking cause earthquakes? How is fracking regulated? Is fracking good for the economy? Coupling a deep understanding of the scholarly research with lessons from his travels to every major U.S. oil- and gas-producing region, Raimi highlights stories of the people and communities affected by the shale revolution, for better and for worse. The Fracking Debate provides the evidence and context that have so frequently been missing from the national discussion of the future of oil and gas production, offering readers the tools to make sense of this critical issue.

The debate over the introduction of nuclear power in Australia has recently become more heated in light of safety concerns over the nuclear reactor meltdown emergency in Japan. Australia has also just committed to a carbon trading scheme to address its reliance on coal-fired energy and reduce greenhouse emissions. With 40% of the world's uranium located in Australia, the economic, environmental and health considerations are significant.This book contains an overview of global nuclear energy use and production, and presents a range of current opinions debating the pros and cons of Australia's expanded involvement in the nuclear power industry.Should Australia build nuclear reactors for its domestic power supply? How environmentally sustainable is nuclear energy, what are the costs, and how safe is the storage of radioactive waste? How does nuclear power compare to alternative sources of energy? What safeguards are there to ensure nations who purchase Australian uranium use it for electricity generation and not for nuclear weapons?Also includes: Worksheets and activities; Fast facts; Glossary; Web links; Index.

Are you a climate denier or climate believer? The subject of energy and climate have become so mainstream and intertwined with politics that today’s discussion has been split into these two antagonistic buckets, leaving no middle ground. You’re boxed from the beginning! The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change, and in their harshest scenario they point to temperatures raising by an average of 6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. At the same time, the goal to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius was picked as a consensus figure among the scientific community. The reality is that we do not know the exact impact of exceeding this target, and we can only estimate and predict what could happen to the planet based on our interpretation of how systems respond. In this scenario, what do we do? Do we destroy the entire energy system as we know it? Do we ignore the potential problem? Or do we apply a business perspective and find solutions that allow us to maintain our lifestyles without the risk of making this planet uninhabitable? This book is about trying to bring the denier and believer sides together to analyze the energy problem from a systems and business perspective, by introducing key aspects of the energy debate, defining the problem, and presenting possible solutions. In essence: more profits, less carbon!