Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future by Robert Bryce

Power Hungry: the Myths of “Green” Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future
by Robert Bryce Adult Nonfiction – New Book Shelves Upper Level 333.79 B



“Power Hungry” explains and runs the numbers on various types of “Green” energy generation, and the math doesn’t turn out the way supporters would prefer. Anyone interested in the energy debate in this country should read this book; it will open their eyes even if they disagree with the conclusions Bryce reaches. Simply put, he does not feel that solar and wind power are sufficient in their current forms to even begin taking over supplying the world’s power needs and will not be anytime soon. In his opinion the logical choice is Natural Gas in the short term and increased Nuclear power in the long term. He explains the terminology and science understandably without condescending to the reader, and even manages to make it interesting. Bryce notes the inconvenient realities that most authors overlook, such as the need for building natural gas generators alongside windmills to supply power when the wind doesn’t blow. Unfortunately, flipping them on and off reduces their efficiency to the point that leaving them on all the time would use no more fuel and supply enough additional power to make the windmills unnecessary. Heresies like these win Bryce few friends among environmentalists, but it does make for educational reading. For those desiring further reading or disputing what he says, Bryce includes seventy pages of fully cited notes and documentation, with web addresses for the source articles and a full bibliography.