Lights Out : The Electricity Crisis, the Global Economy, and What It Means To You

This is a behind-the-scenes expose of why our electricity system is headed for a state of emergency and what can be done to head it off.

Most people don't realize that skyrocketing global energy demand and economic growth severely affect the supply of electricity.

Between production (power plants) and delivery is an antiquated, "third-world" transmission grid that is in desperate need of hardening against breakdowns, terrorist attacks, inadequate carrying capacity, and operational obsolescence. And while electricity doesn't hold the headlines or dramatic power of oil, the ability to ensure its uninterrupted supply at a reasonable price is even more essential to global survival and prosperity. "Lights Out" is today's most detailed, in-depth examination of this largely unreported looming energy crisis.

Written by one of the world's top electricity industry experts, this powerful book covers numerous hot button economic and political issues free markets versus regulation; energy independence versus foreign imports; nuclear power, global warming, and other environmental issues; and much more.Beyond just uncovering and illuminating the problems, however, it proposes a comprehensive road map of technical solutions and regulatory reform from both the production and demand sides of the equation a framework for rethinking, rebuilding, and enhancing the entire electricity production and delivery infrastructure.

Prescriptive and provocative, "Lights Out" will redefine the simmering debate on how the world can and must act now to head off a global catastrophe, one that could eventually wreak even more havoc than the ongoing oil crisis.

Jason Makansi (St. Louis, MO) is the President of Pearl Street Inc., a consulting firm focused on all aspects of electricity production and delivery.

He is the Executive Director of the Energy Storage Council and Editor in Chief of "Power and Electric Power International" magazines.

Makansi has been researching and analyzing the technological, business, and regulatory issues in electricity for over 25 years, and earned a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia University.