Two books that caught my attention: Ethical Oil and Groundswell

This post is going to be longer than normal, so please stay with me.

Most of you know that I believe alternate energy has an important future globally. Sources like wind, solar and biofuels will likely make an important contribution to our energy mix once the challenges get sorted out.

Challenges? Well, storage for one thing. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, these sources can't generate electricity. So someone needs to invent a viable way of storing a huge number of electrons to supply power to the grid while the wind and solar generators are idle.

Then there's the issue of birds. I suspect wind turbines have killed and maimed more birds than the Exxon Valdez. Almost certainly more than oil sands tailings ponds ever will. But that does't make any of this okay. Whatever the method we use to generate energy, we need to protect wildlife.

Will these problems ever be solved? Probably. You know what I think about humanity's capacity to solve problems.

No one knows how long this will take or if alternate energy will ever replace fossil fuels entirely. So Levant's books ask the question: If we're going to use fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, where do you want to get them from?

Although Levant makes some good points, these books are not for the easily offended. They would be considered provocative, blunt and even insulting to many people. Levant takes shots at everyone from Vladimir Putin to Gazprom, the Saudi Royal Family, Iran, Nigeria, Green Peace, the documentary "Gasland" ... you name it. Politics. Religion. Hidden agendas of environmentalists. All kinds of taboo topics are in Levant's crosshairs and he doesn't hold back.

Of special note: According to Levant, the United States has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions below that required by the Kyoto protocol thanks to natural gas fracking (with no environmental consequences). Much of Europe could do the same if they embraced fracking, plus have the energy independence and political freedom that come with it. Really? I didn't know that.

Levant cites some credible sources and appears to trust the scientists who say fracking is okay, but appears to disbelieve the scientists that say climate change is being caused by humans. Environmentalists seem to believe the opposite science. All of this reminds me of the lyrics from the Dire Straits song, Industrial Disease: "Two men say their Jesus. One of them must be wrong."

Facts are facts. But how they can be interpreted and spun is crucial. With issues such as this, it might be most appropriate to challenge those who make claims to cite their scientific sources. We might be best served if we then take the time to read the primary research ourselves before drawing conclusions.