Just finished my buddy Steve's book he loaned me on the coal industry entitled, "Big Coal - The Dirty Little Secret Behind America's Energy Future" by Jeff Goodell. I have to say I was quite skeptical about reading this book. I thought it was going to be an unbalanced approach ranting against the coal industry for its unfair business practices and polluting nature. And really in a lot of respects it was that. But more so, it was an historical account of how the energy industry in this country became such a behomoth with the coal industry riding the coattails. Goodell balanced his displeasure with coal with his scientific fascination of how the organic "rock" got to be the source of 70% of our energy generation in this country in the first place. I was really impressed by Goodell's ability to get interviews with people on both sides of the issue and also his ability to research some difficult political, social, and scientific concepts surrounding energy production. If you get a chance, check this book out. It may forever change the way you think about what the true costs are in getting that 100 watt bulb to turn on in your home. 
P.S. Adam, I just found the biodiesel book you gave me this year as a going away present unpacking boxes this weekend. That's on my next to read list! For anyone who wants to check it out click here for a link to the book entitled, "Biodiesel - Growing a New Energy Economy" by Greg Pahl.
2 comments:
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/061120fa_fact3
check this article out. enjoy the ocean while you can...
with 200 new coal fired electric plants being built in china i'd say the jig is up.
sounds like a good read. i would love to read it...but grad school is ruling my life right now. i had given up hope about you ever reading that book....but glad to see you didn't forget. i hope you enjoy it. read it before you buy your second car and see if it changes your mind about diesel v. gasser :-). Not that BD would fare very well in your freakishly cold winters.
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