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As president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister was known for being a straight shooter, willing to challenge his peers throughout the industry. Now, he’s a man on a mission, the founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, crisscrossing the country in a grassroots campaign to change the way we look at energy in this country. While pundits proffer false new promises of green energy independence, or flatly deny the existence of a problem, Hofmeister offers an insider’s view of what’s behind the energy companies’ posturing, and how politicians use energy misinformation, disinformation, and lack of information to get and stay elected. He tackles the energy controversy head-on, without regard for political correctness. He also provides a new framework for solving difficult problems, identifying solutions that will lead to a future of comfortable lifestyles, affordable and clean energy, environmental protection, and sustained economic competitiveness.
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Praise for Why We Hate the Oil Companies “Provocative, insightful, stimulating. . . . See the alternative view of an insider! Share his outrage.” —Ram Charan, bestselling coauthor of Execution and author of What the CEO Wants You to Know “I have been interested in energy issues since high school and have read extensively on energy-related subjects. This is, by far, the most coherent, thoughtful, practical, and compelling book I have ever read on energy technology and policy issues.” —Mike Critelli, Chairman of Dossia Service Corporation, Retired Chairman and CEO, Pitney Bowes “Why We Hate the Oil Companies is riveting. I keep quoting it to people. Reading it is like having a wise uncle in the energy industry (and an environmental advocate to boot) who takes you aside and tells you, in straight language, exactly what’s wrong and right with the current American system. Candor, insight, and urgency at John Hofmeister’s level are so rare that, before this book arrived, I’d forgotten they existed.” —Art Kleiner, Editor-in-Chief, strategy+business “[Hofmeister] takes a broad view of what we need to do to craft a successful energy strategy for our nation and has firsthand knowledge of why our past policies have failed to prepare us for twenty-first century challenges.” —Robert S. Walker, Former Chairman of the Science Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairman of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Energy “As President of Shell Oil, [Hofmeister] addressed future energy and environmental security, challenging the industry to increase awareness of the energy issues. Now, [he] is reaching out to educate Americans about energy and solutions to ensure that preserving the environment is a top priority for public policy. John knows his ‘business’ and will help citizens and policy makers alike change the way we view our responsibility to the future.” —Gretchen M. Bataille, President, University of North Texas “Entertaining and irreverent, skewering nicely all participants in energy supplies, demand, and policies and is founded on a deep understanding of the economics, technologies, and politics that drive the system. Fulfills a very important role in educating a broad readership in the critical issues of the national energy system and proposing pragmatic solutions with flair and candor. For the sake of the nation, I very much hope it attracts the high level of attention that it deserves.” —Christopher E. Ross, Vice President, Charles River Associates and coauthor of Terra Incognita— A Navigation Aid for Energy Leaders WHY WE HATE THE OIL COMPANIES STRAIGHT TALK FROM AN ENERGY INSIDER JOHN HOFMEISTER why we hate the oil companies Copyright © John Hofmeister, 2010. All rights reserved. First published in 2010 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States—a division of St. Martin’s Press L