Energy Futures (eBook)

The objective of this book is to help readers better understand the links between fossil fuel, greenhouse gas, and climate change in a clear, explanatory format. It avoids sensationalism and politics, using plain language to explain the details of the science, how the science works, and how we know what we know. It describes the history of fossil fuels, why fossil fuel combustion products are a problem, and what must be done to address the impacts on climate. It provides details about a number of energy engineering solutions to replace fossil fuels and technology called geoengineering that can cool the planet and directly remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Some of these technologies can be implemented almost immediately, and others may be applied in the future. Many young people are pessimistic about the future and prepared to give up on addressing climate change. The book strives to maintain hope throughout that humanity can solve this and other environmental problems. The climate crisis was caused by human engineering, and human engineering can fix it. The goal is to produce informed readers that can have responsible discussions with their political leaders about implementing solutions to climate change.

Daniel J. Soeder is an energy consultant with 45 years of experience as a research scientist and geologist working on issues related to energy and the environment.  His background includes a decade of research on the geology of natural gas resources, followed by positions coordinating the hydrologic and geologic fieldwork at the proposed Yucca Mountain high level radioactive waste repository site in Nevada, and researching coastal hydrology, wetlands, water supply, and water contamination in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.  He chaired the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) for the Delaware Estuary Program for three years.  He spent eight years with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) performing energy and environmental research on gas shale and other unconventional fossil energy resources and directed an energy resource program at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology before starting his consulting company.  He has authored multiple reports, scientific papers, and three books on shale development and hydraulic fracturing.  He has a B.S. degree in geology from Cleveland State University, and an M.S. degree in geology from Bowling Green State University (Ohio).