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I'll let a student from my Fall 2012 Sustainability Problems class at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute introduce Switch:“The film goes through all of the main players in the energy world and attempts to give a brief explanation of how they work, listing both pros and cons. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, and biofuels are some of the energies that are discussed. The main goal is simply to inform the viewer without trying to take a side on any of the issues.” 1 Was Switch really intended to inform,“without taking sides?” More on that later; first, some kind words.

My students loved the film. They attended a screening of Switch at which Dr. Scott Tinker, a geologist and star of the film, introduced the film and fielded questions. In the world of economic geology, Tinker is highly prestigious. 2 With Tinker as our guide, Switch provides a wide‐ranging tour of different energy approaches and is full of awe‐inspiring and …