Introduction to Energy
in California
This key reference is a primer on energy in a state that continues to lead the world in finding sustainable solutions to one of the most pressing issues of the twenty-first century. While much public debate has focused on fossil fuels, this clearly written guide provides essential information on a broader range of issues—where our energy comes from, where future supplies will be found, and what new advances are being made in the area of renewable energy sources. Learn more
“If you want to know about energy in California, this book is for you...The author has provided something for everyone in this well-illustrated book. Asmus offers a balanced view, and stresses that the cleanest energy is that which we do not have to produce.”
“The author does an excellent job of chronicling all of the characters and woodsy folklore of the wind power industry for the last three decades. It is a narrow subject, but for anyone interested in how we got where we are today in the field of renewable energy, this is it.”
Reaping the Wind
How Mechanical Wizards, Visionairies and Profiteers Helped Shape Our Engergy Future
From the solitary windmill standing sentry over a rural homestead to the sleek machinery of a modern wind farm, windmills are a powerful symbol of self-reliance and human ingenuity. Once the province of backyard tinkerers and eccentric inventors, they have since the 1980s entered the mainstream to be embraced by environmentalists, venture capitalists and policymakers alike. Learn more
Reinventing Electric Utilities
Competition, Citizen Action, and Clean Power
Traditionally protected as monopolies, electric utilities are now being caught in the fervor for deregulation that is sweeping the country. Nearly forty states have enacted or are considering laws and regulations that will profoundly alter the way the electric utility industry is governed. Concerned citizens are beginning to ponder the environmental implications of such a change, and while many fear that the pressure of competition will exacerbate environmental problems, others argue that deregulation provides a tremendous opportunity for citizens to work toward promoting cleaner energy and a more sustainable way of life.In Reinventing Electric Utilities, Ed Smeloff and Peter Asmus consider the challenges for citizens and the utility industry in this new era of competition. Learn more
“The electric utility industry, the world’s largest, most capital-intensive, and most polluting industry is in the midst of radical restructuring that will profoundly affect every American. in Reinventing Electric Utilities, the authors carefully trace the industry evolution, pointing out painful problems and creative solutions. The book is required reading for everyone who is or wishes to be part of the solution.”