Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy

By Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks

Book Overview

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy ignited America's Apollo Project and sparked a revolution in space exploration. Today the New Apollo Energy Project is poised to revolutionize the production of energy and thereby save our planet. The nation that built the world's most powerful rockets, its most advanced computers, and its most sophisticated life support systems is ready to create the world's most powerful solar energy systems, its most advanced wind energy turbines, and its most sophisticated hybrid cars. This will result in nothing less than a second American Revolution. Who are the dreamers in California who believe they can use mirrors and liquid metal to wring more electricity from a ray of sunshine than anyone else on earth can?

Who are the innovators who have built a contraption that can turn the energy of a simple wave off the Oregon coast into burnt toast in Idaho? Who are the scientists in Massachusetts who have invented a battery that now runs your hand drill and will soon run your car? Readers will meet them all in this book. They will learn how the new energy economy will grow, the research that is required, and the legislation that must be passed to make the vision a reality.

This is a thoughtful, optimistic book, based on sound facts. No one before has tied together the concepts of economic growth and greenhouse gas reductions with such concrete examples. No one has previously told the real stories of the people who are right now on the front lines of the energy revolution. The co-authors, one a U.S. Congressman who is the primary sponsor of the New Apollo Energy Act, and the other the founder of the Apollo Alliance, have joined their experience, expertise, and passion for a clean energy future to lay out the path to stop global warming and gain energy independence.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597266493
• ISBN13: 9781597266499
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Island Press
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Four Horsemen of the Energy Apocalypse

Congressman Jay Inslee puts forth his view toward a solution to fuel prices and climate change. The field is rather crowded right now for books on this topic. Inslee approaches the angle of the economy and jobs more fully than his competitors. He remains more neutral on hydrogen, nuclear, and clean coal, while encouraging wind, solar, and tidal energy. Inslee puts forth Ten Energy Enlightenments. 1. Opportunity Is Best Found in Crisis 2. Boldness Is Required - Tinkering at the Edges Didn't Put a Man on the Moon 3. We Must Reject the Tyranny of the Present 4. There Are No Silver Bullets 5. Everybody Needs to Get on the Bus 6. If Government Sets the Road Signs, the Market Will Drive 7. Failure Is an Option 8. Prejudices Are Best Left at the Door 9. Clean Energy Will Be Powered by New Politics 10. No More Free Lunches "Failure Is an Option" is one that has been forgotten. As a nation it seems that fear of risk in the short-term is setting America up for absolute failure in the long-term. Like Apollo 13, failure is a necessary part of exploration. Inslee sizes up energy situation and climate change well, and does thorough descriptions of energy alternatives - solar, wind, biofuels, clean coal, nuclear, tidal. His description of the "Four Horsemen of the Energy Apocalypse" is memorable. 1. Inertia - ideas can represent change in investments, policies and behavior. Inertia wears down efforts to change the status quo. 2. Special interests 3. Miasma of ideology - issues are viewed through an ideological prism rather than a scientific, pragmatic one. 4. Fear - we cannot adopt policies that can succeed. I would add one more. Fashion. Once ideas sit for too long the media will migrate back to other things, such as Britney, Paris or Lindsay.

Best book I've seen on energy tech and solutions to Global Warming

The thing I like about this book is that it was a great crossover book for both my boyfriend and I. I don't follow energy issues nearly as closely as he does. I need a book that isn't too dry and keeps my interest, but provides the information I need to come up to speed on solutions to global warming and energy independence. This book accomplishes that by relaying that information through personal stories of individuals throughout the country, and contrasting their efforts with national policy. At the same time, judging from my partner's perspective, he was very happy with the book providing him with the latest on this fast moving subject and offering insights into the best investment opportunities in the clean energy space. The book also had some interesting anecdotes about interactions with politicians like Bill Clinton. The only thing that I think can be considered a down side for the book is that it could have given the status of its policy proposals in Congress. However, I do recognize that doing this could make the whole book outdated when new laws are finally passed. I think I speak for my partner and I when I say that it was inspiring. Finally, a proposed solution (or plan at least) to this problem!

Solving Global Warming ISN'T Rocket Science!

I love Jay Inslee and I think he is a great politician, BUT, solving the global warming climate crises ISN'T Rocket Science! It is within our grasp today. American waste twice as much energy as Europeans to achieve the same lifestyle and per-capita GDP. That's just stupid. Fixing much of this is trivial: I bought CFLs, turn off the lights when not in the room, saved 50% on my electrical bill, and applied 10% of that savings to sign up for my electrical utilities "100% green" option to make sure my electricity is coming only from solar and windmills. And I saved myself money. That ISN'T Rocket Science. Rather it is common sense -- something that has been conspicuously absent from American Politics for the last 30 years! And for God's Sake Buy A Prius!

Apollo's Fire, Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy

The writing is a bit on the florid side in places, however, Congressman Inslee and his team have put together a well balanced presentation of the global climate crisis along with a comprehensive plan for a solution. Like President Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon, Congressman Inslee is calling on all to be part of the solution to our dependence on foreign oil and to reduce our CO2 footprint. I believe he is correct in his statement that there is no silver bullet solution, but rather a million parts that must come together to create a solution, from conservation, to planning buildings as if energy matters, to investing in research for new energy sources. I appreciated Congressman Inslee's proposed "American Energy Policy". The economic concept of creating a class of green collar workers from current displaced workers is intriguing. This book is written so that you don't have to be a scientist or an environmental activist to understand, it is a good look at what we can and should be doing.

Apollo's fire, Igniting Amarica's clean Energy Economy

Excellent, this is a very scholarly, comprehensive, objective, and informative compendium of just about all energy aspects. Worthwhile the time to really understand the challenge we all face!