Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of Energy Independence
Encyclopedia
Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of Energy Independence is a book by Robert Bryce
which was released in 2008 and is published by PublicAffairs
.
has appeal as a slogan, but says that the reality is energy interdependence.
As in his later book Power Hungry he makes a case that renewable sources such as wind power
and solar energy cannot meet the United States
' (growing) energy requirements. Bryce dismisses ethanol fuel
as having a cost that far outweighs the benefits. However, he believes that as world prices rise in the longer term, it will be economic to move to non-fossil sources.
magazine said Bryce "fires in all directions, at liberals, conservatives, Republicans and Democrats. His is a no-holds barred attack on what he believes is not just the sale of a pipedream in a global economy but one whose pursuit has become the basis for massive worldwide scams. If for nothing else, that makes this book a must read for anyone interested in navigating a future energy path".
William Grimes wrote in the New York Times that Bryce employs a "slashing, ad-hominem style of attack that can undercut his credibility, especially when he moves away from economics and technology and ventures into politics, an arena to which he brings no particular expertise."
Richard Whittaker writing in the Austin Chronicle
said, "Bryce makes a solid case that energy independence, a totem to both left and right, is not simply unachievable and undesirable but harmful. He depicts himself as the reasonable man facing down a cadre of xenophobes, Luddite
s, boondogglers, and politicos. He doesn't differentiate between the guilty parties along political lines, laying into Milton Friedman
and Al Gore
equally. But there are bogus conflations, like saying energy consumption equals wealth and wealth equals low child-mortality rates, even though the Btu-guzzling U.S. has one of the worst infant-death rates of all industrialized nations".
Robert Bryce (writer)
Robert Bryce is an American author and journalist who lives in Austin, Texas. His articles on energy, politics, and other topics have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Counterpunch, and Atlantic Monthly.-Career:Bryce has been...
which was released in 2008 and is published by PublicAffairs
PublicAffairs
PublicAffairs is an imprint of the Perseus Books Group, an American book publishing company located in New York City. From PublicAffairs' web site:...
.
Synopsis
In 2008 the USA imported 60 per cent of its oil. Bryce argues that, given the size of its energy needs, the USA needs to continue importing oil. He also favors increasing domestic production of oil and gas. He acknowledges that energy independenceNorth American energy independence
North American energy independence is a stated goal of those who believe that the North American nations - the USA, Canada and Mexico - must reduce their reliance on oil purchased from outside the continent....
has appeal as a slogan, but says that the reality is energy interdependence.
As in his later book Power Hungry he makes a case that renewable sources such as wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
and solar energy cannot meet the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' (growing) energy requirements. Bryce dismisses ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel in the United States
The United States became the world's largest producer of ethanol fuel in 2005. The U.S. produced 13.2 billion U.S. liquid gallons of ethanol fuel in 2010, and together with Brazil, accounted for 88% of that year's global production...
as having a cost that far outweighs the benefits. However, he believes that as world prices rise in the longer term, it will be economic to move to non-fossil sources.
Reception
Dr. Michael J. Economides writing for ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine said Bryce "fires in all directions, at liberals, conservatives, Republicans and Democrats. His is a no-holds barred attack on what he believes is not just the sale of a pipedream in a global economy but one whose pursuit has become the basis for massive worldwide scams. If for nothing else, that makes this book a must read for anyone interested in navigating a future energy path".
William Grimes wrote in the New York Times that Bryce employs a "slashing, ad-hominem style of attack that can undercut his credibility, especially when he moves away from economics and technology and ventures into politics, an arena to which he brings no particular expertise."
Richard Whittaker writing in the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
said, "Bryce makes a solid case that energy independence, a totem to both left and right, is not simply unachievable and undesirable but harmful. He depicts himself as the reasonable man facing down a cadre of xenophobes, Luddite
Luddite
The Luddites were a social movement of 19th-century English textile artisans who protested – often by destroying mechanised looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt were leaving them without work and changing their way of life...
s, boondogglers, and politicos. He doesn't differentiate between the guilty parties along political lines, laying into Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
and Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
equally. But there are bogus conflations, like saying energy consumption equals wealth and wealth equals low child-mortality rates, even though the Btu-guzzling U.S. has one of the worst infant-death rates of all industrialized nations".
See also
- Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of EnronPipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of EnronPipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron is a book by Robert Bryce and published in 2002 by PublicAffairs with an introduction by Molly Ivins.-Synopsis:...
- Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the FuturePower Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the FuturePower Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future is a book by Robert Bryce about energy, mainly from a United States perspective.It was published in 2010 by PublicAffairs...