This book is the product of the good will and hardwork of many people. The contributors, all recognized experts in their fields, are thanked for providing thoughtful, informative chapters and for accommodating editorial suggestions and revisions. Westview Press is thanked for providing the opportunity to address a serious omission in the energy literature. The Geography Department at the University of Maryland made a similarly generous commitment of secretarial staff and faciltiies. Allen Eney aided in the construction of computerized maps. Many skilled, conscientious individuals at state energy offices, public utility commissions, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other organizations supplied essential data and produced many of the analytic studies that underlie the contents of the book. Patti Leedham provided patient and expert typing through numerous revisions of the chapters and many tables. Patricia Sawyer provided essential guidance, support, and proofreading throughout the entire effort.

This is a comprehensive book on how to make complex decisions on energy systems problems involving different technologies, environmental effects, costs, benefits, risks, and safety issues. Using Industrial and Systems Engineering techniques for decision-making in Energy Systems, the book provides the background knowledge and methods to incorporate multiple criteria involved in solving energy system problems. It offers methods, examples, and case studies illustrating applications. Decision-Making in Energy Systems discusses subjective as well as objective methods, approaches, and techniques taken from the systems and industrial engineering domain and puts them to use in solving energy systems problems. It uses an integrated approach by including effects of all technical, economic, environmental, and safety considerations as well as costs and risks. The book is specially designed for practicing engineers from industrial/systems engineering who work in energy systems engineering industries. Aimed at graduate students, researchers, and managers involved in various energy generating, distributing, and consuming companies, the book helps the reader to understand, evaluate, and decide on solutions to their energy-related problems.