This topic is in the news every week, and it affects each one of us: our electric supply. We have all seen our electric bills go up! Despite the investment of billions of dollars on wind and solar energy, blackouts are becoming more frequent. Massachusetts is committed to wind, while the Trump administration opposes it. Last year the U.S. announced plans to triple nuclear energy production, yet many people abhor this approach. What is the right solution?

Much of what we read and see in the news about wind and solar energy overlooks or minimizes the very real disadvantages of those technologies, while most of us were raised on a diet of catastrophic news about nuclear energy that overstates the risks. We will aim to achieve a more balanced view, and to bring out information most people are not aware of. The content is intended for the lay person: This is not an engineering course.

To avoid misinformation that is so abundant in this area, we will use reliable, verifiable sources such as the grid operators themselves and the Department of Energy. Classes will include a mix of slides, short videos, and discussion and debate. We may decide to do online homework as timely or controversial topics arise. Preparation time should be 30-45 minutes each week.

Note:  This is the same content as the course given this past fall. That course was originally offered as in-person only. This term it was suggested that others might be interested in seeing the same content remotely, as the previous course was well-received