Obelisks will burn Vinteum dust for power. Doesn't last as long, but way easier to get. The in-pack recipe for a bucket of essence is 4 water buckets in a vortex infuser (you lose the buckets in the process) and approx 1600 power. (400 per pylon) For early ore doubling/smelting, the Aura Cascade machines are cheaper to operate and work just as well. Later game, the EE3 transmutation tablet should be an easy source of Vinteum dust.
As far as light level goes, I usually just stick a chunk of glowstone down next to my cane, seems to work better than torches. In the mid-term, by the time you need more than a couple books you should have a transmutation tablet and it'll be a moot point.