Final answer:
The author claims that the main difficulty in ending our dependence on fossil fuels is that there are no superior substitutes that match their cost, convenience, and efficiency. Given their environmental impact and finite nature, transitioning to less favorable alternatives is necessary, yet presents significant practical challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difficulty in ending our dependence on fossil fuels, as made by the author, lies in the absence of superior substitutes. The book presents that fossil fuels are superior to alternatives in many respects such as cost, convenience, and efficiency. However, due to their finite nature and the environmental damage they cause, it is imperative to transition to other sources of energy, despite these not being as favorable.
Evidence suggests that the gap between fossil fuels and alternatives presents practical challenges, as noted in Chapter 17 which summarizes that fossil fuels still beat out alternatives on a host of considerations, pointing to the inherent difficulty in finding equally viable energy options.
The author further emphasizes that while the future of fossil fuel extraction is uncertain, our current reliance on them alongside their environmental consequences necessitates a shift away from them. This is complicated by the consideration that alternatives currently do not match the convenience and economic favorability of fossil fuels, as emphasized in another part of the text stating that if not for the finite supply and CO2 problem, fossil fuels would continue to satisfy our energy needs.
Moreover, the book suggests we should not count on better options miraculously appearing and should instead prepare to migrate to the available choices, despite their potential shortcomings.
Lastly, the dependence on fossil fuels has left economies vulnerable to supply shortages and price hikes, which stresses the urgency for transitioning to other energy sources. The United States' significant import of oil since the peak of own oil production in 1970 accentuates this vulnerability and underscores the pressing need for alternative energy solutions.