Renewable: The World-Changing Power of Alternative Energy

Description

Science writer Jeremy Shere travels around the country to see firsthand what\'s new in alternative energy and discover what the future holds for usJeremy Shere began thinking about alternative energy sources the way so many of us do—wondering how and when they would affect his life. In Renewable<\/i>, Shere\'s initial consideration of \"green\" choices for his family has broadened into an inquiry to examine how energy is changing in today\'s United States. Shere began his journey with a tour of a traditional coal-fueled power plant in his home state of Indiana, but continued on, traveling from coast to coast as he spoke to scientists, scholars and innovators. Immersing himself in the green energy world, he installed solar panels, drove through a wind farm, investigated turbines deep in the East River, and interviewed scientists who create fuel from algae and grass. He also examined the role of renewable energy in history, including surprising and entertaining stories of innovations—like plant-based fuels and giant windmills—and the curious involvement of great thinkers like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Nicola Tesla. Jeremy Shere\'s natural curiosity and serious research of energy technology in history and of today is leavened by lively writing and a Michael Pollan-esque approach, to create an intriguing vision of the future.