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A review by rooafza
Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism by Ozzie Zehner
4.0
The alternative energy movement/industry has been co-opted by Big Oil and is a massive ruse to get subsidies. Solar power is inefficient. Wind power suffers from unpredictable supply issues and adverse environmental side effects. The risk of nuclear(fission) power is too high. Fusion is unfeasible. Hybrid cars are a red herring and a PR gimmick by the oil and car industries. So where do we go from here?
The author's basic premise is that technology is not a panacea and we need to completely revise our way of thinking about energy. "Jevon's paradox arises again and again in the various incarnations throughout the history of energy use: Increases in energy efficiency make energy services relatively cheaper, encouraging greater consumption". In other words, correcting energy consumption should be our focus, rather than increasing energy production. Basically, "Alternative-energy techs are only as durable as the contexts we create for them".
The author's basic premise is that technology is not a panacea and we need to completely revise our way of thinking about energy. "Jevon's paradox arises again and again in the various incarnations throughout the history of energy use: Increases in energy efficiency make energy services relatively cheaper, encouraging greater consumption". In other words, correcting energy consumption should be our focus, rather than increasing energy production. Basically, "Alternative-energy techs are only as durable as the contexts we create for them".