Crossing the Energy Divide: Moving from Fossil Fuel Dependence to a Clean-Energy Future

12. How Much, How Fast?

This book makes a strong claim: that the key to the U.S. energy supply for the next generation—until renewables are up to scale—is not to develop new sources of oil or natural gas in ever harder-to-reach places at ever higher cost, but to greatly increase the amount of energy service we are getting from existing fossil-fuel sources. We further claim that this goal can be achieved with simultaneous sharp reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, relying on existing technologies and well-tested business strategies, and at surprisingly little cost to taxpayers. We see compelling reason to believe that such a strategy is crucial to sustaining economic health and civil order while providing a viable bridge to the clean-energy ...