Meet Michael Skelly, the man boldly harnessing wind energy that could power AmericaтАЩs future and break its fossil fuel dependence in this тАЬessential, compelling look into the future of the nationтАЩs power gridтАЭ (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 spreeтАФwind 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 StatesтАФand sold it for $2 billion. Wind energy was no longer funnyтАФit was well on its way to powering more than 6% of electricity in the United States.
Award-winning journalist, Russel Gold tells SkellyтАЩs story, which in many ways is the story of our nationтАЩs evolving relationship with renewable energy. Gold illustrates how SkellyтАЩs 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 AmericaтАЩs future.