A Declaration of Energy Independence

If you've wondered about how America can break links between oil consumption, terrorism, and the war in Iraq, A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom from Foreign Oil Can Improve National Security, Our Economy, and the Environment will show you how our country can gain energy independence and solve its energy crisis. Written by a top energy expert, this book outlines seven economically and politically viable ways America can more efficiently use and produce energy. Find out how carbon fuels negatively impact our lives and understand the political framework of the energy crisis.

Introduction : Why Energy Independence Matters More Than Iraq 1PART ONE: The Problem of America's Energy Dependence 11Chapter 1: America's Plunge into Reliance on Foreign Oil 13Chapter 2: A Forgotten Victory Gives Hope: How America Solved Its Last Energy Crisis and Cut Oil Imports in Half 41Chapter 3: Lapsing Back into Oil Addiction: Retreating from Battle under Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush 71Chapter 4: Blood and Treasure: The Heavy Cost of Dependence on Middle East Oil 89Chapter 5: Fossil Fuels and Global Warming: A Dangerous Experiment with the Planet 103Chapter 6: The Magic and Limits of Market-Based Solutions 121Chapter 7: Seeing through the Ideological Blinders (of the Right and the Left) 133PART TWO: Seven Economically and Politically Viable Paths to Energy Independence 143Chapter 8: Solution One: Store Massive Emergency Reserves 145Chapter 9: Solution Two: Drive the Car of the Future 157Chapter 10: Solution Three: Bring Alternative Fuels to Market 173Chapter 11: Solution Four: Plug into an Electric Future 181Chapter 12: Solution Five: Adopt Energy Taxes Liberals and Conservatives Can Like 191Chapter 13: Solution Six: Make Energy Conservation a Patriotic Duty 203Chapter 14: Solution Seven: Throw Some "Hail Marys" 213PART THREE: Securing Our National Future 221Chapter 15: What We Need from National Leaders (and from Voters) 223Acknowledgments 231Notes 233Index 243