Lighting the World: Transforming our Energy Future by Bringing Electricity to Everyone

by Jim Rogers

1.2 billion people on Earth still don't have electricity. Even where cell phones are now common, like sub-Saharan Africa and parts of India, villagers still walk miles to charge them. But new large-scale, sustainable solutions will not only usher in a new era of light, but be an important first step in lifting people from poverty and putting them on a road of sustainable economic development. Also, a unique, transforming opportunity for Western thinkers and practitioners will be created. These areas have largely skipped the analog stage of power development, and have moved straight from the middle ages to the digital age. They are not encumbered by existing infrastructure, dependence on fossil fuels, or too many outdated laws and regulations. An ideal innovation incubator, the developing world might just be the best way to make progress on our own energy issues at home.

Jim Rogers is leading a grand collaborative effort to bring sustainable, clean electrical power to everyone who lacks it. This reverse engineering, he contends, could solve the energy crises of America and Europe, while also making the world a cleaner, smarter place. But it won't be easy. In Lighting the World , Rogers details the bold thinking, international cooperation, and political will required to illuminate the future for everyone.

Genres: Environment

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2015

About the author

Jim Rogers was chairman of Duke Energy’s board of directors and served as the company’s president and CEO from April 2006 until July 2013. Over the course of his 25 years as a CEO in the electric utility industry, Rogers delivered an average total shareholder return of more than 12 percent per year by focusing on sustainable growth, stakeholder engagement and finding business solutions to environmental challenges.

He has served more than 50 cumulative years on the boards of directors of eight Fortune 500 companies. Rogers is also active with numerous nonprofit boards, including his current role as chair of the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership, a nonprofit organization composed of the world’s leading electricity utilities. In addition, Rogers sits on the boards of the Asia Society, the Aspen Institute and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. He is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the global board of directors of The Nature Conservancy.

Rogers was chairman of the Edison Electric Institute when it changed its position to support federal climate change legislation in 2007. He was also the founding chairman of the Institute for Electric Efficiency and past co-chair of both the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency and the Alliance to Save Energy.

Recognized as an outspoken and accessible voice for business, Rogers earned the reputation as a “CEO Statesman.” In 2009, Newsweek named him one of “The 50 Most Powerful People in the World.” He has testified more than 20 times before U.S. Congressional Committees, and addressed international forums including the United Nations General Assembly, the World Economic Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative.

Under Rogers’ leadership, Duke Energy was recognized as a leader in sustainability – balancing the “triple bottom line” of people, planet and profits. In 2010 and 2011, the company was named to the elite Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. Duke Energy was also part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America in each of the seven years Rogers served as the company’s CEO.

He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Kentucky, and lives in Charlotte, N.C.

Rogers and his wife, Mary Anne, have two daughters, a son and 11 grandchildren.

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine book. Extremely fine, very average. By the decade of publication, title, cover, and knowledge of the main author's previous career you kinda know what this book entails if you've ever read another. A pop non-fiction about some transformative thing that needs to happen etc etc. The prose matches that, the ideas presented and how match it, it's just so very cookie cutter.

To be a bit more detailed, the prose is very easy but uncaptivating and often overly corporate brained. This is not a long work but you could have edited this by about 1/3 the chapters and got the point across with enough support. The ideas laid out by Rogers are fine, unimaginative both at publication and now when many of the root issues (an analysis of which is easily the most interesting section of the book alongside some nice current/historical discussion of American electrical generation where his expertise running energy companies shines more) are still left unsolved. Despite talking vaguely about solutions there's not much weight behind them and they come off more like high level idealizing instead of a real attempt at solving problems. Solving problems is hard! Not having a good answer or more than vague whispers of one isn't a bad place to be because there's still great value in identifying problems and some of their root causes! Just don't premise your book title and subtitle around having solutions if there really aren't any.

[Beth Kutchma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. I learned so much about the business of electricity. 1.2 Billion people lack access to electricity which greatly impacts education, safety and employment, especially for women and children. Good stuff.

[Susan Csoke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where people take electricity for granted, over a billion people still live without any electricity at all. Jim Rogers gives us a view of his vision of bringing electricity to everyone - everywhere. THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK. !!!!