As we face global warming and the decline of oil production, Author champions a spectrum of alternative energy sources, including hydropower, geothermal and biomass energies, solar, wind power and biofuels reporting on a number of community and cooperative alternative-energy successes within European Union as well as Poland. Dr Szyjko examines energy use throughout European Union legal iniciatives and Poland’s implamentation steps. He analyzes various alternative energy sources available addressing each energy source’s pros and cons based on needs, availability and environmental impact. The paper takes a pragmatic look at the myriad EU’s and government efforts to promote renewables, and reports on what works, what doesn’t, and why. The author shows how and why some policies have achieved impressive results, and others have failed. Skillfully interweaving technology, economics and politics he reveals how the best of policy ideas often end up with best results towards 2020