Christopher Flavin

In the following viewpoint, Christopher Flavin argues that the United States must make a transition from burning environmentally damaging fossil fuels to the use of clean and renewable energy sources. He maintains that although renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power corner a minor share of the energy market today, they will become economically viable in the near future. Christopher Flavin is senior vice president at Worldwatch Institute, an organization that tracks the earth’s well-being, and coauthor with Nicholas Lenssen of Power Surge: Guide to the Coming Energy Revolution.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Flavin, what is the legacy left by the last century’s energy system"
2. How much of the world’s energy do wind and solar power currently produce, according to the...