Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.
ABB, 97
Abbott, Tony, 50
Abengoa, 80
Africa. See also specific countries
Congo River hydropower projects, 125–26
geothermal resources of Great Rift Valley, 100, 109–10
renewable energy installations in 2014, 4
African Development Bank, 125
agriculture
climate change affecting, 5–6
geothermal energy, use of, 102, 103, 104
hydropower and, 120, 121
wind energy as double-cropping technique, 86–87
air pollution
from coal, 35–36, 38, 48, 142–43
as driver of energy transition, 5–6
Alstom, 97
American Association of Railroads, 38
American Legislative Exchange Council, 77
American Wind Energy Association, 91
Anschutz, Philip, 98, 144
Apple (software company), 145
aquaculture and geothermal energy, 102–04
Arab oil embargo (1973), 67
Arch Coal, 46
Areva, 57
Arizona Public Service, 77
Asia. See also specific countries
geothermal resources of Ring of Fire, 100
hydropower investment in, 124
oil use in, 23
transportation in, 27, 31
Aswan High Dam, Egypt, 129
Austin Energy, 77–78
Australia
coal exports, 49–50
geothermal energy in, 112
solar energy in, 4, 71
wind energy in, 3–4
Austria
hydropower in, 116
solar water heaters in, 82
automobiles. See transportation
Baker, Bill John, 92–93
Ball State University, geothermal energy at, 104
Ban Ki-moon, 36
Bangladesh
Chinese dam building and, 127
solar power in, 81–82
Barclays, 77
Baxandall, Phineas, 25
Belgium
nuclear power in, 63
wind energy in, 94
Bell Labs, 67
Bernstein, Stuart, 143
Beyond Coal campaign (Sierra Club), 8, 41–44, 51, 144
Bhutan, hydropower in, 117–18
bicycles and bike-sharing, 26–29
bird deaths from wind turbines, 89
Birr, Thomas, 76
black lung disease, 34–35
Bloomberg, Michael, 43, 144
Blue Lagoon, Iceland, 101
Boeing, 145–46
Boise State University, geothermal energy at, 104
BP, 19, 20
Brazil
hydropower in, 116–17, 121, 123–24
oil use in, 22
solar water heaters in, 82
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 93
Bridge to India, 81
Brown, Jerry, 136
Brune, Michael, 43
Buffett, Warren, 78, 92, 107, 143
Bush, George W., 43, 137, 144
business use of renewable energy, 143–46
Byrd, Stephen, 88
CalEnergy, 107
Cambodia, hydropower in, 128
Canada
carbon tax in, 138
coal use in, 38
geothermal energy in, 100
hydropower in, 116, 117, 131
solar power in, 69
tar sands in, 14, 21
wind energy in, 85
cap-and-trade programs, 138–39
carbon tax, 136–38
Carbon Tracker, Unburnable Carbon (2011), 13
cars. See transportation
Central American Electrical Interconnection System, 130
Chernobyl nuclear meltdown (1986), 63–64
Chevron, 10–11, 22
Chile
solar energy in, 80
wind energy in, 93
China
cap-and-trade programs, 138
coal use in, 9, 35–36, 46, 48–50, 142–43
geothermal energy in, 102–03
health burdens and air pollution from use of coal in, 35–36, 142–43
hydropower in, 114–16, 117, 122, 123, 127–28, 131
hydropower investment by, 124–25, 126, 129
nuclear power in, 15, 54, 55, 65, 150
oil use in, 22, 23
photovoltaic manufacturing in, 68
solar energy in, 3–4, 70–71, 79, 82
transportation in, 26, 28, 30, 148
wind energy in, 3–4, 15, 65, 84, 90–91, 95, 150
Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project, 98
Citi Bike program, New York City, 28
Citi Research, 48–49
cities
automobile use in, 25–26, 29, 134–35
renewable energy goals in, 141–42
Clean Line Energy Partners, 98
climate change
coal use and, 36–37, 43
as driver of energy transition, 5–6
hydropower and dams, climate impact of, 121–22
kerosene, solar energy replacing, 81
stranded assets and, 13
Clinton Global Initiative America, 92
coal, 34–52
air pollution from, 35–36, 38, 48, 142–43
coal (continued)
climate change and, 36–37, 43
closing of plants, 37–41, 76
college and university coal-free commitments, 44–45
in developing world, 46–49
exporting countries, 49–51
health burdens from use of, 34–36, 37, 48
investment in, 38, 45–46
peak coal, 9, 48–49
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
profit margins, drop in, 36, 45–46
Sierra Club campaigns on, 8, 42–45, 51, 144
stranded assets and, 13–14
transitioning from, 8–9
water supply and use of, 9, 41–42, 46
Coal India, 47, 140–141
colleges and universities
coal-free commitments, 44–45
divestment movement and, 16–17, 149
use of renewable energy by, 104, 146
compact fluorescent bulbs, 81, 139
concentrating solar power technology, 79–80
Congo River hydropower projects, 125–26
Contact (power company), 108–09
Cooke, Kieran, 12–13
Cooper, Mark, 57
corporate investment in energy. See investment in energy
corporate use of renewable energy, 143–46
Costa Rica, geothermal energy in, 105, 110
Crooks, Ed, 20
Cyprus, solar water heaters in, 83
Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010), 19
Denmark
bicycle commuting in, 27
coal use in, 37
wind energy in, 3, 4, 85–86, 89, 94, 96, 141, 149–50
Deutsche Bank, 69
divestment movement, 16–17, 149
Dominion Resources, 56
Duke Energy, 56
earthquakes and seismic activity
dams leading to, 122
fracking leading to, 41
Fukushima nuclear meltdown (2011) and, 60–62
Ecuador, hydropower in, 116
EDF, 56, 57
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 53
El Salvador, geothermal energy in, 105, 110
Elwha Dam, Washington State, 120
Enel Green Power, 110
energy efficiency and energy reduction programs, 139–40
energy transition, 3–18, 133–51
beginnings of new energy economy, 3–4 (See also geothermal energy; hydropower; solar energy; wind energy)
corporate use of renewable energy, 143–46
divestment movement, 16–17, 149
drivers of, 5–6, 133, 135
energy efficiency and energy reduction mechanisms, 139–40
government policy and, 135–43, 147–48
government use of renewable energy, 147
localization of energy economy and, 134
move away from fossil fuels, 8–12, 133 (See also coal; natural gas; oil)
nuclear power, decline of, 14–15 (See also nuclear power)
persons involved in, 133–34
speed of, 6–8, 17, 149–51
stranded assets, 13–14, 15–16
transportation as driver of, 133, 135, 147–49 (See also transportation)
winners and losers in, 134
Engelking, Betsy, 78
enhanced geothermal systems technology, 111–13
Eni, 11, 21
E.ON, 57, 76
Epstein, Paul, 36
Ericson, Tim, 28
Ethiopia
geothermal energy in, 110
hydropower in, 116, 128–29
transportation in, 30
European Investment Bank, 46
Europe/European Union. See also specific countries
coal use in, 37
feed-in tariffs in, 135
solar water heaters in, 82
supergrid for renewable power sources, 97
transportation in, 27, 29, 31
wind energy in, 85–86
ExxonMobil, 10–11, 12, 20, 21
farming. See agriculture
feed-in tariffs, 135
Finland, nuclear power in, 56
First Solar, 78, 79
fish farming, use of geothermal energy for, 102–04
fisheries and hydropower, 120, 121, 128
Ford, Bill, 28
FORGE initiative, 112–13
fracking
enhanced geothermal systems technology adapted from, 111–12
natural gas, 8–9, 40–41
oil, 20, 21–22
France
coal use in, 37
geothermal energy in, 103, 112
hydropower and dam removal in, 116, 120
nuclear power in, 15, 53–57, 65–66
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 15, 66, 85, 89
Froggatt, Antony, 54, 60
Frost and Sullivan research group, 31
Fukushima nuclear meltdown (2011), 14, 54, 60–62, 63, 71–72, 108, 142
General Electric, 97
General Motors, 28
geothermal energy, 100–13
for agriculture and aquaculture, 102–04
binary plants, 106
costs of, 111
developmental potential, 106–11
as electricity source, 102, 105–06
enhanced geothermal systems technology, 111–13
FORGE initiative, 112–13
global distribution of resources, 100–05
as heat source, 102–05
investment in, 107
Geothermal Energy Association, 106, 107, 111
Germany
coal use in, 37
geothermal energy in, 103, 106
nuclear power in, 14, 57, 62
oil use in, 22, 23
photovoltaic manufacturing in, 67–68
renewable energy goals in, 141
solar energy in, 7, 14, 68, 69, 70, 75–76
solar water heaters in, 82
traditional utilities forced to revise business models in, 7–8
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 14, 15, 84, 85, 89, 94, 96–97, 142
Ghana, hydropower in, 118
Ghawar oil field, Saudi Arabia, 19
Gillingham, Kenneth, 74
Glines Canyon Dam, Washington State, 120
Goldman Sachs, 45, 51, 143
Google, 145, 146
government policy and energy transition, 135–43, 147–48
government use of renewable energy, 147
Grand Coolee Dam, Washington State, 118, 119
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, 116, 128–29
Grand Inga hydropower project, 125–26
Granholm, Jennifer, 41
Gregoire, Christine, 43
GTM Research, 73, 74
Halsey, Ashley, III, 25
health burdens
from coal use, 35–36, 37, 48, 142–43
from nuclear accidents, 61, 63–64
Herron, Caroline, 92
high-voltage alternating current cables, 96
high-voltage direct current lines, 96–97, 98
Holmes, Ingrid, 46
Hoover Dam, Nevada, 118
Hungary
coal use in, 37
geothermal energy in, 103–04
hydropower, 114–32
benefits and drawbacks of, 114–15, 120–23, 124, 125–26, 128–29, 132
development potential of existing dams, 119–20
economic hazards of, 122–23
exports of, 117–18
global use of, 115–19
inter-country water rights and, 127–30
investment in, 123–29
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
pumped storage, 131
removal of existing dams, 120
small-scale projects, 126–27
solar energy and, 120, 126, 128, 132
tidal and wave energy, 130–31
wind energy and, 120, 132
Iceland
geothermal energy in, 100–02, 103, 105
hydropower in, 101
Ichijo Co., 72
India
coal use in, 46–48
feed-in tariffs in, 135
hydropower in, 116, 117, 127
nuclear power in, 54, 65
oil use in, 22
renewable portfolio standards in, 136
solar energy in, 72, 79, 80–81, 140–41
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 15, 65, 84, 89, 93
Indonesia
coal exports, 49
geothermal energy in, 105, 107–08
offshore drilling project, 22
oil production and use in, 22–23, 108
Inter-American Development Bank, 130
International Centre for Environmental Management, 128
International Energy Agency, 69, 123, 139
International Rivers, 125
investment in energy
coal, 38, 45–46
divestment movement, 16–17, 149
geothermal energy, 107
hydropower, 123–29
nuclear power, 57
oil, 10–12, 14, 21, 22
solar energy, 5, 71, 72, 78–79
stranded assets, 13–16
wind energy, 5, 87, 125
Iowa Wind Energy Association, 87
Iran, nuclear power in, 54
Ireland
carbon tax in, 138
wind energy in, 3, 85, 141
irrigation systems in India, 140
Israel, geothermal energy in, 104
Itaipu Dam, Brazil, 116–17, 122
Italy
bicycling in, 27
coal use in, 37
geothermal energy in, 103, 109
nuclear power in, 62–63
solar power in, 70
wind energy in, 85, 89
Japan
Fukushima nuclear meltdown (2011), 14, 54, 60–62, 63, 71–72, 108, 142
geothermal energy in, 103, 108
hydropower in, 116, 131
oil use in, 22, 23
solar cells, pioneering uses of, 67–68
solar energy in, 69, 71–72
Top Runner Program, 139–40
transportation in, 29–30
wind energy in, 142
Japan International Cooperation Agency, 110
JBC Energy Markets, 22
Jewell, Sally, 95
Johnson Controls, 146
Kashagan oil field, Kazakhstan, 11, 20–21
Kearns, Cesia, 51
Kenya, geothermal energy in, 105, 109–10
kerosene, solar energy replacing, 80–81
Kimes, Christine E., 82
Kitzhaber, John, 51
Klose, Christian, 122
Kyocera, 67–68
Kyte, Rachel, 126
La Geo, 110
Latin America. See also specific countries
geothermal resources of Ring of Fire, 100
renewable energy installations in 2014, 4
LEDs, 81, 139
Lennar, 73–74
Liebreich, Michael, 16
lightbulbs, 81, 139
localization of energy economy, 134
Lockheed Martin, 131
Lovins, Amory, 134
Lowe, Jim, 104
Lummi Nation, 51
Lumsdon, Alexander, 123
Mankiw, N. Gregory, 137
Mao Zedong, 114
Markey, Ed, 119
McKibben, Bill, 149
mercury toxicity, 35
Merkel, Angela, 14, 62
Mexico, Water Treaty (1994) with U.S., 129–30
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, 78, 92, 107
Mighty River Power, 109
Modi, Naranda, 47, 93
molten salts, energy storage in, 79–80
Moore, Joseph, 112
Moran, Jim, 40
Morgan Stanley, 143
National Household Travel Survey, 25
Native Americans
on coal exports, 51
wind energy and, 92–93
natural gas
fracking, 8–9, 40–41
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
transitioning from, 8–9, 40–41, 76, 108–09
Natural Resources Defense Council, 51
Navigant Research, 88, 96
net metering, 77
Netherlands, wind power in, 94–95
New Zealand
coal use in, 37
geothermal energy in, 105, 108–09
hydropower in, 116
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 39
Nigeria, hydropower in, 121
Nile River Basin, 116, 128–29
Nilles, Bruce, 43
Northland Power Inc., 94
Norway
hydropower in, 116
transportation in, 32, 148
nuclear power, 53–66
accidents, risk of, 60–62, 63–65
nuclear power (continued)
closure of plants, 56–58
compared with alternative energy, 14–15, 65–66
costs of, 53–57, 59–60, 65
decline in use of, 14–15, 53–54, 66
disposal of nuclear waste, 58–59
investment in, 57
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
plant construction and maintenance, 15, 54–56
transitioning from, 62–63
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 119–20
Obama, Barack, 46, 147
Ohio State University, wind energy at, 146
oil, 19–33
Arab oil embargo (1973), 67
corporate profits, drop in, 10–12, 20–21, 22
fracking, 20, 21–22
global oil use trends, 22–23
government subsidies for, 11–12
investment in, 10–12, 14, 21, 22
peak oil, 22
production constraints, 19–21
from tar sands, 14, 20, 21, 22
transitioning from, 9–12, 108
transportation, changes in, 23–33 (See also transportation)
Oklahoma State University, wind energy at, 146
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, 23
Orka Energy, 102
Ormat Technologies Inc., 112
Pacific Aquafarms, 104
Pacific Intertie, 98
Paraguay, hydropower in, 116, 117
Park Jiyoung, 59
Parker, Kevin, 45
Parkinson, Giles, 71
Patrick, Deval, 95–96
Paulson, Hank, 144
Peabody Energy, 46
peak coal, 9, 48–49
peak oil, 22
Pertamina, 107
Peru, hydropower in, 116
Philippines, geothermal energy in, 105, 107
photovoltaic technology, 67–68, 78–79. See also solar energy
Poland
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 93–94
Portugal, wind energy in, 3, 85
Potsdam Institute, 13
Prius, 32, 139
Rajagopal, Surabhi, 81
Recurrent Energy, 77
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, 138–39
renewable portfolio standards, 135–36
Richter, Alexander, 109
Ring of Fire, 100
rising sea levels, 5, 6
Risky Business, 144
Rittenhouse, Ryan, 42
Rockefeller Brothers Fund divestment campaign, 17
Rockefeller, John D., 17
Romania, wind energy in, 94
Rosneft, 20
Russia
Chernobyl nuclear meltdown (1986), 63–64
hydropower in, 116, 118
nuclear power in, 54, 55
RWE, 76
Ryan, Eamon, 138
Sadik-Khan, Janette, 28
Salton Sea, California, 107
Sandia National Laboratories, 65
Saudi Arabia
Ghawar oil field, 19
solar energy in, 73, 141, 144
Saudi Aramco, 20
Schneider, Mycle, 54–55, 60
Scotland
renewable energy goals, 141
tidal energy in, 131
SELCO Solar, 80–81
Sharp, 67–68
Shell, 10–11, 12, 21, 22
Siemens, 96, 97, 130–31
Sierra Club’s anti-coal campaigns, 8, 42–45, 51, 144
Simmons, Stuart, 112
Simon, Bill, 145
Sinopec Green Energy Geothermal Development Co., Ltd., 102
Sivak, Michael, 24, 25
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Oxford University, 17
Solar Electric Light Fund, 80–81
solar energy, 67–83
beginnings of new energy economy and, 4
community solar options, 75
concentrating solar power technology, 79–80
corporate use of, 143, 144–46
costs of, 7, 68–71, 73–74, 77–78, 80, 81–82, 134
early uses of, 67–68
electrical utilities and, 75–79
global expansion in use of, 7–8, 68–75
government investment in, 140–41
grid, bypassing, 80–83
hydropower and, 120, 126, 128, 132
investment in, 5, 71, 72, 78–79
irrigation systems in India, 140
kerosene replaced by, 80–81
leased versus direct-owned installations, 74
molten salts, energy storage in, 79–80
net metering, 77
new home construction and, 72, 74–75, 82
nuclear power compared, 14–15, 65–66
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
photovoltaic technology, 67–68, 78–79
speed of assembly of solar arrays, 15
tax credits for, 136
thin-film PV, 78, 79
transportation, electrical power for, 33, 148–49
water heaters, 4, 82–83
Solar Energy Corporation of India, 141
South Africa
coal use in, 37
solar power in, 70
South Korea
nuclear power in, 54
nuclear waste disposal in, 59
Southeastern Anatolia Project, 129
Southern California Edison, 56
Southern Power, 78, 143
Spain
hydropower and dam removal in, 120
solar energy in, 79
transportation in, 27, 30
wind energy in, 3, 15, 84, 85, 89
Stanford University divestment campaign, 16–17
Statoil, 22
Steyer, Tom, 144
Stowe Global Coal Index, 45
stranded assets, 13–16
Summers, Lawrence, 137
Sun Yat-sen, 114
SunShot program, 80
Sweden, nuclear power in, 57
Switzerland
hydropower in, 116
nuclear power in, 62
Tan Sang, 128
tar sands, 14, 20, 21, 22
tax credits, 88, 136, 137, 147–48
Teng Fei, 36
Tennessee Valley Authority, 38
TenneT, 96, 97
TEPCO, 61
Tesla Model S, 32
ThinkGeoEnergy.com, 109
Thorp, Holden, 44–45
350.org, 149
Three Gorges Corporation, 124
Three Gorges Dam, China, 114–15, 117
Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown (1979), 63
tidal and wave energy, 130–31
Tockner, Klement, 127
Tonle Sap, Cambodia, 128
Top Runner Program, Japan, 139–40
Total (oil company), 11, 14, 20, 21, 22
Toyota Prius, 32, 139
transportation, 23–33
bicycles and bike-sharing, 26–29
car-sharing, 31
as driver of energy transition, 133, 135, 147–49
electrification of, 10, 16, 32–33, 147–49
fuel efficiency standards for new cars, 31–32
gas stations, as stranded assets, 15–16
global fleet numbers, 29–31
public transit, increase in use of, 24
solar power and, 33, 148–49
urban environment and, 25–26, 29, 134–35
U.S. car culture, changes in, 23–25
TransWest Express transmission line, 98
Tres Amigas Superstation electricity hub, 98–99
Tresaugue, Matthew, 42
Tri Global Energy, 91
Turkey
geothermal energy in, 103, 109
hydropower in, 129
wind energy in, 94
Turner, Ted, 78, 143
UBS, 148, 149
Ukraine
Chernobyl nuclear meltdown (1986), 63–64
nuclear power in, 54
United Arab Emirates, solar energy in, 79
United Kingdom
coal use in, 37, 150
nuclear power in, 56, 58
transportation in, 30
wind energy in, 3, 85, 86, 89, 94, 96, 150
United States. See also entries at U.S.
bicycles and bike-sharing in, 26–27, 28–29
car culture, changes in, 23–25
car-sharing in, 31
coal exports, 50–51
coal use in, 8, 38–40, 46
fracking in, 21–22
fuel efficiency standards in, 31–32
geothermal energy in, 100, 104, 106–07, 112
health burdens from use of coal in, 34–35
hydropower in, 116, 117, 118–20, 129–30, 131
natural gas production in, 8–9
nuclear power in, 53–58, 64–65
nuclear waste disposal in, 58–59
number of licensed vehicles in, 29, 30
oil use in, 9–10, 22, 23, 24
Price-Anderson Act, 64–65
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, 138–39
renewable portfolio standards in, 136
solar cells, pioneering uses of, 67–68
solar energy in, 4, 8, 69–70, 73–75, 77, 79, 80
solar water heaters in, 82
Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown (1979), 63
Water Treaty (1944) with Mexico, 129–30
wind energy in, 4, 15, 84, 88–93, 95–96, 97–99, 142
universities. See colleges and universities
University of Illinois coal-free commitment, 44
University of North Carolina coal-free commitment, 44
University of Oklahoma, wind energy at, 146
urban environments
automobile use in, 25–26, 29, 134–35
renewable energy goals in, 141–42
U.S. Clean Air Act, 35, 40
U.S. Department of Energy, 59, 80, 112
U.S. Department of the Interior, 95–96
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 39, 45, 51, 145, 146
U.S. Federal Transit Administration, 24
U.S. Geological Survey, 107, 112
U.S. PIRG Education Fund, 24
van Beurden, Ben, 11
Venezuela, hydropower in, 116
Verizon, 144–45
Vestas, 86
Vietnam, hydropower, and dam building, 128
Villaraigosa, Antonio, 44
Wald, Matthew, 57
Walmart, 145
water heaters, solar, 4, 82–83
water supply
coal use and, 9, 41–42, 46
fracking and, 41
Fukushima nuclear meltdown (2011) and, 61
hydropower affecting, 120, 121
hydropower and inter-country water rights, 127–30
irrigation systems in India, 140
wind energy and, 88
Watson John, 20
wave and tidal energy, 130–31
Wind Base program, China, 15, 90
wind energy, 84–99
beginnings of new energy economy and, 3–4
bird deaths and, 89
corporate use of, 144, 146
costs of, 88
government investment in, 141
hydropower and, 120, 132
investment in, 5, 87, 125
land efficiency and yield per acre, 86–87
nuclear power compared with, 14–15, 65–66
offshore facilities, 94–97
as percentage of global electricity sources, 34
popularity of, 87–88
rapid global expansion in use of, 84–87, 89–94
replacement of older turbines, 99
speed of assembly of wind farms, 15, 89
tax credits for, 88, 136
transmission of, 96–99
transportation, electrical power for, 33
variability issues, 89
water supply and, 88
Wolkonowicz, John, 23–24
Wong, Edward, 35–36
World Bank, 28, 81–82, 125, 126, 138
Zagster, 28
Zarfl, Christiane, 123
Zimbabwe. hydropower in, 118
Zindler, Ethan, 93
Zipcar, 31