Since the early 1970s, a variety of issues relating to energy supply have disrupted the energy marketplace. The oil crises of the 1970s, the deregulation of electricity and gas markets, the ebb and flow of various conflicts in the Middle East, Y2K fears, air-quality concerns, the recognition of global warming, and California’s recent energy supply woes are just some of the events and concerns that have affected both consumer perceptions and market prices. As these factors have contributed to increased energy costs and have created uncertainty in the energy market, consumers have actively sought more sustainable alternatives—often in the form.
