Smart Energy Policy: An Economist's RX for Balancing Cheap, Clean, and Secure Energy

While everyone wants energy that is clean, cheap, and secure, these goals often conflict: traditional fossil fuels tend to be cheaper than alternative fuels, but they are hardly clean or (in the case of oil) secure. This timely book provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the issues as well as sensible proposals for a truly sustainable energy policy.

Economist James Griffin points out that current energy policies are fatally flawed and that government policies should focus on “getting the prices right” so that the prices of fossil fuels reflect their true costs to society―including greenhouse gas and security costs. By using carbon and security taxes, alternative energy forms will be able to compete on a more even playing field against fossil fuels. This will unleash advances in alternative energy and conservation technologies enabling the marketplace and consumers to find the right balance among energy sources that are cheap, clean, and secure.

James M. Griffin is professor of economics and public policy and holder of the Bob Bullock Chair at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. He lives in College Station, TX.