1. Why do we need energy?


2. Think of three specific examples of material progress that have been powered by energy.


3. Why is coal consumption increasing?


4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal?


5. How can proven oil reserves be 70% higher than 20 years ago even though a lot of oil has been
consumed in that time?


6. What are the advantages of natural gas over coal and oil? Why do we still use coal and oil?


7. What are the concerns about hydraulic fracturing?


8. What are the advantages of nuclear power? What are the biggest costs?


9. What do we mean by clean energy?


10. Since hydropower is both clean and cheap, why don’t we expand its use in the U.S.?


11. Which energy sources do not emit pollutants or greenhouse gases?


12. What are the drawbacks of wind power?


13. What are the drawbacks of solar?


14. Why does the mix of energy sources vary from one country or geographical region to another?


15. How do Morocco’s solar power facilities work?


16. Why will energy demand increase in the future?


17. Why do people in poor countries want to be able to use more energy?


18. Why isn’t there one best solution to the energy problem?