Why We Struggle to Go Green: Hard Truths About the Clean Energy Transition

A clear-eyed assessment of climate change mitigation strategy written by an engineer who has traversed the energy landscape for 30 years and can describe its complexity in a relatable fashion that bridges the gap between academic writing and journalism. My analysis is rooted in approachable, accurate, and appropriately skeptical descriptions of the core pillars of today’s energy transition: electrification; carbon capture, utilization, and storage; hydrogen; and recycling and the circular economy. I also discuss energy markets and how they will have to evolve to meet the needs of a low carbon economy.

On Sale September 2025 from Stoney Creek Publishing

Photo: Raxon Rex (Openverse)

Simpler is Smarter: The Mystique of Technology and its Risks for Sustainability

Reveals the manner in which mathematics has unwittingly created a mystique around technology that has evolved to become a dangerous barrier to human understanding. Better efforts must be made to deliver scientific and economic education in ways that do not misrepresent the limitations of our conceptual tools. Overly complex mathematical models hinder the ability of non-specialists to make informed policy or investment decisions, and they can even create a false sense of security among expert practitioners. This does not imply that humanity should abandon quantitative methods. On the other hand, it does help to explain why today's large language and deep learning models are mistakenly being referred to as "intelligent", and how overconfidence in "sustainable development" puts real progress toward climate stabilization at risk.

In Progress

Photo: Brett Jordan (Openverse)