Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider »

John Hofmeister joined Shell Oil in 1997 and served as its president from 2005-2008, following twenty-five years in major energy consuming companies, including GE, Nortel and AlliedSignal. He is now the chairman of the board of the National Urban League and founder of the nonprofit Citizens for Affordable Energy. He has appeared on the Today Show, Meet the Press, and other major news shows, and continues to be sought out as an expert on energy issues by media including CNN, CNBC, Fox Business Today, and Bloomberg, among others. He lives in Houston, TX.

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.

The future is more, not less

• There is an energy shortage, but there is no shortage of energy

• Energy independence? Keep dreaming

• No, we’re not addicted to oil

• Go right! Go left! No way!

• Forget the free market* The future is struggle

• The industry is parochial. Surprised?

• Oil and gas: unlovable and unavoidable

• Utilities: ditto!

• Can refueling stay simple?

• Conservation starts with land use management

• Inconvenient or not, the truth is that climate change is not the issue

• Energy and politics: oil and water

• Our government is broken

• Here’s how we fix it

• More is more – every voice counts

• Epilogue: U.S. Energy in 2110