In this volume of RCC Perspectives, esteemed historian David Blackbourn follows the challenge of energy production in Germany over the past two hundred years—from wood and coal, to hydroelectricity and nuclear power, and finally to emerging renewable technologies. Suggesting parallels between past and present energy choices, Blackbourn examines the political, cultural, and economic contexts of German energy regimes against a backdrop of increasing global debate. As Germany enters a transitional phase in energy policy, with the end of its nuclear age and the tentative steps towards “green” energy sources, can we look to the past to understand the present and even the future?