The meltdown of Fukushima, the energy expansion of China, the Gulf oil spill, the wars in the Middle East, and the looming threat of global warming are each powerful reminders to the president and to U.S. citizens that nothing has more impact on our lives than the demand for-and limited supply of-energy. Energy challenges are more confusing, contentious, and complicated than ever before. How can we balance our desire for energy security against the threat of global warming? Will nuclear power ever be safe? Are natural gas deposits in Pennsylvania a windfall of historic proportion or a disaster waiting to happen? The answers are in this must-read manual for energy policy. Richard A. Muller provides careful analysis and crucial insights. Fukushima and the BP oil spill were bad but not catastrophic and should not play a major role in energy policy. The future is natural gas. Despite past abuses by gas companies, fracking can be done cleanly; moreover, exploitation of the shale gas deposits is the key to slowing global warming. The electric car-no. The hybrid car-yes. Ethanol-no. Synfuels-yes. The most rapidly breaking news: shale oil is destined to transform our energy landscape and bring gasoline prices back down. In addition, "Energy for Future Presidents" is the first book to offer substantial analysis of the headline-grabbing "Berkeley Earth" project on global warming, founded and led by Muller.

Part I. Energy catastrophes. Fukushima -- The Gulf Oil spill -- Global warming and climate change / Part II. The energy landscape. The natural-gas windfall -- Liquid energy security -- Shale oil -- Energy productivity / Part III. Alternative energy. Solar surge -- Wind -- Energy storage -- The coming explosion of nuclear power -- Fusion -- Biofuels -- Synfuel and high-tech fossil fuels -- Alternative alternatives: hydrogen, geothermal, tidal, and wave power -- Electric automobiles -- Natural-gas automobiles -- Fuel cells -- Clean coal / Part IV. What is energy? The properties of energy -- The meaning of energy -- The beauty of energy / Part V. Advice for future presidents. Energy technology policy -- Key considerations -- Beware -- Your legacy.