Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider by John Hofmeister, Narrated by John Hofmeister (Read via Audible.com)

I got this book on an audible advanced book sale, not expecting too much. I was pleasantly surprised. Granted he does a lot of finger pointing in the book. But I do appreciate the candidness and his genuine perspective on energy policy.

I liked that he actually looked at the big picture of energy in the USA and in the world. He really explained the issue which I have not seen yet from any decent news source (That I follow anyway). The two main points he makes is that 1) current renewables are not efficient enough for a large scale once the energy cost of manufacturing is considered, and 2) there is a need for yet another oversight committee on energy.

For the first point, I would have to agree. When solar reaches a good enough efficiently and in a form factor that can made into a shingles for roofs, then everyone should replace their roofs with solar generation. If there was a law saying you have to do that, there would be dramatic impacts on the amount of energy being generated. But for that to work, you also have to modernize the energy grid, and plan on millions of homes generating for the grid, powering larger cities throughout the day. Also the United States has to dramatically invest in nuclear reactors. They have to pick an element or variant of one, standardize it and deploy it. Its not hard. If France can do it. So can the United States.

As for point number 2 in creating a new body in government… I am kind of torn. The concept is great. I do like the way he presents his idea, I would be all for the group. However, the current US government is just too broken right now and could not handle another group. Which would result in it end up doing nothing. That raises another issue entirely about the heath of current United States government. But that needs more thought on my part before a valid opinion can be made.

A solid 8/10