1. Introduction 2. Energy basics 3. The contemporary US energy system : overview including a comparison with China 4. Human induced climate change : why you should take it seriously 5. Human induced climate change : arguments offered by those who dissent 6. Coal : abundant but problematic 7. Oil : a volatile past, an uncertain future 8. Natural gas : least polluting of the fossil fuels 9. Nuclear power : an optimistic beginning, a clouded future 10. Power from wind : opportunities and challenges 11. Power from the sun : abundant but expensive 12. Hydro : power from running water 13. Earth heat and lunar gravity : geothermal and tidal energy 14. Plant biomass as a substitute for oil in transportation 15. Limiting US and Chinese emissions : the Beijing agreement 16. Vision for a low carbon energy future