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