Energy Production and Alternative Energy (Confronting Global Warming)

Cover......Page 1
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
Natural Factors Cause Some of Earth’s Warming and Cooling......Page 12
The Role of Scientists in Climate Observation and Projection......Page 13
Long-Term Warming May Bring About Extreme Changes Worldwide......Page 15
Strategies for Confronting Climate Change......Page 16
1. Energy and Global Warming: An Introduction......Page 19
The Fossil Fuel Era......Page 20
The Global Warming Problem......Page 23
Solutions to Energy-Related Global Warming......Page 24
Notes......Page 28
Fossil Fuels and Carbon Emissions......Page 30
Countries Responsible for Carbon Emissions......Page 32
U.S. Energy Usage......Page 34
Growing Energy Demands and Emissions......Page 37
Notes......Page 39
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol......Page 40
Prospects for U.S. Emission Cuts......Page 42
U.S. Regulatory Efforts......Page 45
Improving Energy Efficiency......Page 46
Geoengineering Solutions......Page 47
Individual Lifestyle Changes......Page 49
Notes......Page 50
Natural Gas as a Transition Fuel......Page 52
The Clean Coal Debate......Page 55
Nuclear Power......Page 57
Methane Energy......Page 60
Notes......Page 61
5. Developing Clean and Renewable Electrical Energy......Page 63
Solar Energy......Page 64
Wind Power......Page 65
Geothermal Energy......Page 68
Energy from Water......Page 70
Notes......Page 73
Biofuels......Page 75
Hydrogen Fuel Cells......Page 80
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles......Page 82
Notes......Page 85
Encouraging Investments in Clean Energy......Page 86
The Role of Carbon Caps......Page 89
Creating Green Jobs......Page 91
Economic Impact......Page 93
Notes......Page 96
Technological Challenges......Page 97
Infrastructure Needs......Page 98
Political Obstacles......Page 101
Environmental Concerns......Page 102
Winning the Global Race Toward Clean Energy......Page 104
Notes......Page 106
Conclusion......Page 108
Notes......Page 110
Glossary......Page 111
Books......Page 117
Periodicals......Page 119
Internet Sources......Page 120
Web Sites......Page 121
Index......Page 123
About the Author......Page 133
Back Cover......Page 134