The Energy Question

by Gerald Foley

This survey of our energy needs and resources considers them all from a technical, an environmental and even a political perspective. The revised fourth edition lays particular emphasis on the issues of today: the prospects for nuclear energy after Chernobyl, the availability of oil supplies and the role of renewable resources. A new chapter covers global warming and the threat to the ozone layer.

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 1976

Reviews

[Octavia Cade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely well-researched if rather dry snapshot of the state of energy resources and research at time of writing. That time happens to be the 1970s, so this is clearly not applicable to today's energy issues but it's nonetheless an interesting snapshot of the period. Foley is primarily concerned, I think, with establishing a need for energy conservation and adequate planning for future use. That's a recommendation that still holds value today, given our continued reliance on oil and other fossil fuels. One interesting fact that I never knew: apparently back in 1273, London had an anti-pollution law that banned coal-burning in the city. One can only wonder what those law-makers would make of coal today!

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although its an old book, I was interested to see what the prevailing thinking about the energy future was 50 years ago and how different it may have been to what Foley predicted. He was surprisingly close to the mark. His remarks on nuclear were interesting given it was largely before the three-mile island disaster and he said it was a luxury fuel given the cost involved and that it was a dangerous fuel given there is not much of a link to getting to nuclear grade fuels. Another was the view on hydrogen, saying it will never work as a fuel to replace electricity or other major fuels such as gas. He was optimistic about renewables, which was well founded. But I think it only worth reading if you are a student of energy or are working in that field, or you are a nerd (I'm mean in a very positive way) about the subject.