Lights Out

A behind--the--scenes exposure why our electricity system is headed for a state of emergency--and what can be done to head it off Most people dona t realize that skyrocketing global energy demand and economic growth severely affect the supply of electricity. Between production (power plants) and delivery is an antiquated, "third--world" transmission grid that is in desperate need of hardening against breakdowns, terrorist attacks, inadequate carrying capacity, and operational obsolescence. And while electricity doesna t hold the headlines or dramatic power of oil, the ability to ensure its uninterrupted supply at a reasonable price is even more essential to global survival and prosperity. Lights Out is todaya s most detailed, in--depth examination of this largely unreported looming energy crisis. Written by one of the worlda s top electricity industry experts, this powerful book covers numerous hot button economic and political issues--free markets versus regulation; energy independence versus foreign imports; nuclear power, global warming, and other environmental issues; and much more. Beyond just uncovering and illuminating the problems, however, it proposes a comprehensive road map of technical solutions and regulatory reform from both the production and demand sides of the equation--a framework for rethinking, rebuilding, and enhancing the entire electricity production and delivery infrastructure. Prescriptive and provocative, Lights Out will redefine the simmering debate on how the world can--and must--act now to head off a global catastrophe, one that could eventually wreak even more havoc than the ongoing oil crisis. Jason Makansi is the President of Pearl Street, Inc., a consulting firm; Principal of PS Liquidity Advisors, an advisory service for energy technology companies raising capital; and Executive Director of the Energy Storage Council, a public--policy advocacy organization. A prolific author, respected industry thought leader, and seasoned communicator, Mr. Makansi has been analyzing the technological, business, and regulatory issues in electricity production and delivery for over twenty--five years. He earned a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia University. His earlier books include An Investor's Guide to the Electricity Economy, also published by John Wiley & Sons, and Managing Steam: An Engineering Guide to Commercial, Industrial, and Utility Systems.

ISBN 0470109181   Pages 306 ISBN13 9780470109182 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd   Weight (grammes) 510 Imprint John Wiley & Sons Ltd   Published in Chichester Format Hardback   Height (mm) 236 Publication date 19 Jun 2007   Width (mm) 163 Library of Congress HD9685   Spine width (mm) 28 DEWEY 333.79320973   Academic level Professional / Scholarly DEWEY edition DC22

Pt. 1		The worst-case scenario		1
Ch. 1		Night of the living dead		3
Ch. 2		The production and delivery value chain		19
Ch. 3		Around the world, around town		37
Ch. 4		Preventing the worst case		59
Pt. 2		Insecurities, vulnerabilities, and an uneasy state of the industry		73
Ch. 5		Why a first-world country has a third-world grid		77
Ch. 6		Living with a transaction economy		91
Ch. 7		The brain drain		99
Ch. 8		Environmental imperatives		111
Ch. 9		Houston, we have a problem		123
Ch. 10		The impact of lengthening supply lines : how elastic are they?		131
Pt. 3		Fighting "the last war," planning the next one		143
Ch. 11		It's that '70s show		145
Ch. 12		Sticker shock (without the sticker)		155
Ch. 13		Electricity storage		163
Ch. 14		Coal : extracting its full value		173
Ch. 15		Exercising the nuclear option		187
Ch. 16		Savvy consumption, empowering ratepayers		207
Ch. 17		Distributed power		221
Ch. 18		Redefining the grid with real intelligence		233
Ch. 19		The rest of the world		241
Ch. 20		A vision for the future : daydream, nightmare, or a good night's rest?		257
		Postscript : personal accountability		275

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