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Superpower

One Man's Quest to Transform American Energy

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Superpower

Written by: Russell Gold
Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
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Meet Michael Skelly, the man boldly harnessing wind energy that could power America’s future and break its fossil fuel dependence in this "essential, compelling look into the future of the nation’s power grid" (Bryan Burrough, author of The Big Rich).

The United States is in the midst of an energy transition. We have fallen out of love with dirty fossil fuels and want to embrace renewable energy sources like wind and solar. A transition from a North American power grid that is powered mostly by fossil fuels to one that is predominantly clean is feasible, but it would require a massive building spree - wind turbines, solar panels, wires, and billions of dollars would be needed.

Enter Michael Skelly, an infrastructure builder who began working on wind energy in 2000 when many considered the industry a joke. Eight years later, Skelly helped build the second largest wind power company in the United States - and sold it for $2 billion. Wind energy was no longer funny - it was well on its way to powering more than six percent of electricity in the United States.

Award-winning journalist Russel Gold tells Skelly’s story, which in many ways is the story of our nation’s evolving relationship with renewable energy. Gold illustrates how Skelly’s company, Clean Line Energy, conceived the idea for a new power grid that would allow sunlight where abundant to light up homes in the cloudy states thousands of miles away, and take wind from the Great Plains to keep air conditioners running in Atlanta. Thrilling, provocative, and important, Superpower is a fascinating look at America’s future.

©2019 Russell Gold (P)2019 Simon & Schuster
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Michael Skelly is an inspiration for his vision. Great storytelling and a fascinating exposé of the dysfunction of the energy infrastructure policy and regulation. Federalism and politics run amok. Highly recommended. Superb narration!!

An inspiring cautionary tale of energy development

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