Thirty years ago, our global energy landscape did not look remarkably different from what it does today. Three or four decades from now, it certainly will: dwindling oil reserves will clash with skyrocketing demand, as developing nations around the world lead their citizens into the modern energy economy, and all the while, the grave threat of catastrophic climate change looms ever larger. Energy worries are at an all-time high—just how will we power our future? With The Powers That Be , Scott L. Montgomery cuts through the hype, alarmism, and confusion to give us a straightforward, informed account of where we are now, and a map of where we’re going. Starting with the inescapable fact of our current dependence on fossil fuels—which supply 80% of all our energy needs today—Montgomery clearly and carefully lays out the many alternative energy options available, ranging from the familiar, like water and solar, to such nascent but promising sources as hydrogen and geothermal power. What is crucial, Montgomery explains, is understanding that our future will depend not on some single, wondrous breakthrough; instead, we should focus on developing a more diverse, adaptable energy future, one that draws on a variety of sources—and is thus less vulnerable to disruption or failure. An admirably evenhanded and always realistic guide, Montgomery enables readers to understand the implications of energy funding, research, and politics at a global scale. At the same time, he doesn’t neglect the ultimate connection between those decisions and the average citizen flipping a light switch or sliding behind the wheel of a car, making The Powers That Be indispensible for our ever-more energy conscious age. Though often densely factual, Montgomery's thorough depiction of our global energy crisis and the ways by which we can correct it...is a must-read for anyone unsure or uniformed about the severity of our fossil-fuel dependence. --Sierra Club "...an unconventional, lucid, pragmatic, and thought-provoking discussion of the present global energy situation...this book stands alone above all other energy books flooding the market...Highly recommended. All academic, general, and professional readers." Choice, selected as one of 25 "Outstanding Titles" for 2011 Through sixteen chapters, Montgomery has presented a comprehensive review of the current energy situation in the world and our energy options in the coming decades. The book is written in a readable style for the educated public... - Rasoul Sorkhabi, Geo ExPro The Powers That Be is an unconventional, lucid, pragmatic, and thought-provoking discussion of the present global energy situation. The book is written in plain language by a knowledgeable source whose perspective from academia and industry brings new clarity and insights to the table, especially in terms of realistically assessing what is known and not known about how much any energy source, carbon based or not, is likely to deliver in the foreseeable future...Highly recommended. All academic, general, and professional readers. CHOICE Scott L. Montgomery is a consulting geologist and independent scholar, and the author of The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science and Science in Translation , both published by the University of Chicago Press. THE Powers THAT Be GLOBAL ENERGY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AND BEYOND By Scott L. Montgomery The University Of Chicago Press Copyright © 2010 Scott L. Montgomery All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-226-53500-5 Contents List of Abbreviations......................................................................ixPreface....................................................................................xi1 What Binds Us All........................................................................12 Our Energy Past: Does It Hold Any Lessons?...............................................143 Our Energy Present: Global Trends and What They Mean.....................................304 Oil Reality: Burning Questions...........................................................535 Natural Gas: The Lighter Side of Fossil Fuels............................................816 Coal: Once and Future King?..............................................................947 The Great Debate: When Will the Wells Run Dry?...........................................1118 Nuclear Power: A New Context, Changing Views.............................................1279 Renewable Energy 1: The Real and the Possible............................................14910 Renewable Energy 2: Sources, Technologies, Limitations..................................16211 Hydrogen: Forever Fuel, or Wishful Thinking?............................................18412 Fusion Energy: Some Like It Hot.........................................................19913 Geopolitics and Energy: An Evolving Geography...........................................21314 The Technology Imperative: Some Reflections.