Using the state of California as a model, Eric Smith explores how much the public understands energy policy, what the public wants officials to do about U.S. energy problems, and how governments will cope with energy shortages in the future.

Introduction -- Energy crises and agenda setting -- Public opinion during an energy crisis -- The question of trust -- The Yom Kippur Arab-Israeli War: the crisis of 1973-74 -- The Iranian oil crisis: 1979-1980 -- The Persian Gulf War: 1990-1991 -- The era of peak oil energy prices: the oil shocks of 1999-2000 and 2007-08 -- Conclusion