Adding cost of pollution reveals true cost-benefit of power sources

Discussions of energy policy often begin with claims such as "All we need to do is 'drill, baby, drill' or 'we can generate all our electricity with wind or solar power.' " Both statements are usually based on a misunderstanding of where we are and how we got here. As one who teaches about energy issues, I always make sure my students grasp the technical essentials of our present energy systems as well as their embedded economic incentives. In terms of energy policy, we need to mind our Qs and Ps.