Special Topics in Environmental Policy and Culture (390-0-20)
Topic
Contemporary Issues in Energy
Instructors
William Charles Geoffrey Burns
650.281.9126
1808 Chicago Avenue
Office Hours: call or email
Meeting Info
Fisk Hall 114: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
This course will chart the development of primary energy sources through the history of the United States, as well as the current status of energy sources, technologies, consumption patterns, conservation and energy policies. The emphasis will be on the environmental effects of various choices made at each step of the energy cycle, and an examination of those choices from technological, legal, and socioeconomic perspectives. The course will also examine the nexus of climate change and energy choices. The skill-set building component of this course will seek to build an understanding of the role of legal institutions in the energy realm, including how to interpret court cases and legislation.