Full Episode

Introduction to BTLS: Within thirty years, the United States will need to meet an expected 30% increase in electricity demand while cutting carbon emissions and renovating our entire electrical system. We ask the question: what will the best energy mix moving forward? More coal? Natural gas? Nuclear? Renewables? Or will energy efficiency be our way out?

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Carbon capture and storage promises to clean up coal's carbon emissions. But it's expensive, takes up a lot of real estate and has never been proven to work at commercial scale. BTLS examines the feasibility of attaching CCS units to every coal-fired plant in America.

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The United States is now literally awash in natural gas thanks to a new method of drilling called hydrofracturing or better known as "fracking'". While fracking has revived some long dormant economies, it comes with environmental costs. BTLS examines the gas rich Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and New York. We end with a look at where fracking began - Texas.

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Environmentalists are split. Traditionally anti-nuclear, some activists now find themselves turning to low-carbon nuclear power to combat what they see as the bigger threat - global climate change. But is nuclear safe? Have things changed since Three Mile Island? What is the future of new reactor designs?

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President Carter made the ultimate symbolic gesture to renewable energy putting solar panels on the roof of the White House. After only eight years, President Reagan had them removed along with America's solar manufacturing advantage. Now thirty years later, as China and Germany race ahead in solar production and installation, are we watching any hope of America leading a renewable energy industry slipping away again?

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For years, Cape Cod has been the site of a symbolic fight over wind power. Not-in-my-backyard types vs. renewable energy advocates. BTLS examines the advantages and disadvantage of America's fastest growing renewable resource and energy efficiency.

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