Electricty demand takes up most of the imported oil.  When will solar panels on houses in many areas of the US become manadatory?  Does it not seem logical?
132180
Bush's relaxing of the pollution laws are going to make it so smoggy that solar panels won't work.
144070
The answer to most of the US's problems is our dependency on oil.  Not only for automotive fuel but also for energy generation and heating.  We need to find cheaper and more efficient ways to handle these issues and soon.
281624
IN a convoluted way, you are making a very good point. Isn't it sad that we change only when forced to? Our consumption of oil is/has produced profound changes to our world...a world that we have no choice but to live in. The greenhouse effect is growing daily, the powers-that-be are so short sighted they do nothing in the serious face of reality. WE are in for some very drastic consequences of our use of oil, and the entire planet will pay heavily for it shortly. In our lifetime, absolutely.
33736
I think we will eventually.  For a few reasons:\n1) There finally seems to be enough momentum and interest on the part of consumers for vehicles that consume less gas.  Its no longer a "fringe thing" or a hobby or a "tree hugger" thing.  Every day people are fed up with high gas prices and our dependence on less friendly nations.  The more demand there is from consumers, the more incentive manufacturers will have to make such vehicles.\n2) Gas prices are not coming down significantly anytime soon.  There was a bit on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago where Texas Billionaire investor T. Boone Pickens was discussing investments he was making in Canadian Oil Sands.  He said "We'll never see $1.50 gas again."  I agree.  With the surging demand from countries that are just starting out in their economic growth cycles (India and China), the demand for all petroleum based products is only going to get worse.  This will further push up world oil prices and further infuriate already frustrated consumers of gas.\n3) On the innovation front, Venture Capital firms and others with money to invest are looking for the "next big thing".  The Internet was the fad of the 90's.  Now, looking for a new wave to catch, I'd say a significant amount of money is going into startups looking at ways to reduce our dependence on petroleum.  This could include investments in Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Technologies, Solar Technologies, BioDiesel, etc.  Innovations that come out of these investment efforts should, hopefully, yield some technologies that help the US (and world) consumers break their addiction to oil.
327652
it is a very important question and it return to future .we know  that in future all types of energy as oil will finish and nuclear energy will instead to other energy .and some country that are holder of this type of energy doesn't like other country can produce nuclear energy and will be dependent to them  .
334087
Thats because the USA is one of the highest consumers of Oil in the world.Also the USA hardly has any Oil resources.That leaves it with no choice but to import oil which makes it dependent on foreign oil.
21978
I researched that when I lived in campbell co.\n\nthe usable solar exposier was real low.... something like 30-35%
412691
Our home is headed for ruination. All the reports including one i saw on the news today regarding the fish stocks in the sea needing to be protected from commercial fishing , fossil fuels like gas, oil,  climate change, deforestation.  We will not make it past 2050 without radical change.\n         Revelation 11  v 17.
371169
I am terribly disappointed with global warming. I read in an article that in 40 years or so, the polar caps will completely melt, and the water from there will flood the whole earth, except midwest America. Then, everybody who wanted to live had to move there. That would be a complete shame. Everybody is using electricty as if it were for granted. We need to preserve our energy, and of course, recycle! We don't want our children (if we have any) to always experience hot weather! We want our children to experience cold weather, like snow! I remember... I used to love and examine the snowflakes. I guess our grandchildren will never experience snowflakes... but, the positive side is, that my science teacher said that after a while, we will start to cool again, and that will become the cooling period (ice age). So, I guess everything will be even a long time later (if we're still alive!).
27753
Society and the economy demand a steady supply of oil.  I know on no one who has pulled the main circuit breaker of their home or thrown away the keys to their car(s), especially gas guzzlers whether they are liberal or conservative.  It is our problem.  Whoever owns the oil should profit by its sale, but oil need not become a geopolitical football.\n\nThe real question is whether oil will be used to fuel the world or to fuel terrorism.  The fuel problem is only temporary.  We need to capture perhaps 1% of 1% of the sun's solar energy to meet all our needs.  Technology is rapidly improving.  Soon there will be available relatively cheap plastic foil photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy to electrical energy.  The technology already exists.  The roofs of most buildings will be covered with them.  Then we will still need a little oil to lubricate our bikes and hedge clippers.  The problem is to obtain and maintain world peace until then.  And that may be a decade or two.
286735
Drive less (or stop alltogether) and lobby your politicians for renewable energy reform.  Also, turn the lights out, keep your lint filter clean, skip a shower, turn computer and monitor off when not in use, eat organic, use natural cleaning supplies, put furnace on a timer, turn water off while soaping up in shower, reuse everything, read Walden by Henry David Thereau, etc.
142623
perhaps China just need oil for its own survival.\nIt is better to go for alternative source of energy and reduce wastage of energy.
597278
It is a real concern, but whenever someone makes a prediction about when a country of the world will reach peak oil output, they do so with what then is considered a researve.  As the cost of a barrel of oil increases, sources for oil that were once not considered a researve then become on because at that cost it is economically viable to recover it.  With the recent spike in oil prices, North America can now clasify the tar sands in Canada and the oil shales in Colorado oil researves, and that being the case, it is estimated that in the US alone, we now have more economically recoverable oil then Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest exporter.  As the price continues to increase, other marginal sources will become economically viable.  Sooner or later, we will reach a point where there simply isn't enough oil available for any price, but that is still a ways off yet.  I believe that before we reach that point, oil will be more expensive then alternate fuel sources.  Through simple economics, I believe that people will begin using these alternate fuels simply because they are less expensive.  I believe that the high cost of oil will spawn invention and inovation into the energy sector, and I believe that has already begun.  We are working on increasing production of biodiesels and ethenol, and there is increased research into fuel cells and electric autos.  I think the future lies in hydrogen burning technology personally.  We already have engines that burn Hydrogen, but we're still working on the fuel tank dilema.  So, for a long answer, I believe that there is and will be time. I'm looking foward to being put out of buisiness.
358302
Electrical cars have been practical and affordable for at least fifteen years in the US. But with lobbying from the rich oil companies, laws and car manufacturers have not had any incentive to work towards them. Ford and Chevy tried, and couldn't make the marketing work to get enough people to buy them. Only with gas prices rising in the US have hybrids even started being fashionable.\n\nSolar cars are not yet practical, in most parts of the US, because of the limited efficiency of solar panels and the fact that many parts of the country do not have that many sunny days per year. It doesn't suit the average commuter if they can't get to work because it is raining.\n\nHowever, if people really started using electric cars, solar powered recharging stations could be added in many parts of the country where feasible. This leaves other forms of electric power production as the source where solar is not as useful.
281971
You mean like a communist country would? No I live in America.\n-one less thing for the gov to mess up\n-the gov IS in charge of creating energy policy and to date \nthey have not...since GH Bush..and his plan sucked (oil based)\n-replace greedy oil execs with greedy politicians?\nWe have high gas prices because we buy gas guzzling SUV's and live 30 miles from work. IT IS OUR FAULT!!
29
Same reason solar power isn't more popular despite lots of sunshine: with current technology the cost per kwh is still much higher than for power generated with fossil fuels. As fossil fuel prices rise and technology improves so-called "alternative" energy sources become more cost effective, but the crossover point still appears to be several years in the future.\nForcing expensive alternative technologies on the market before they are economically viable simply raises electricity prices for homeowners--this is part of the reason CA electric rates were so far above the national average in the 1990's, opening the door for Enron and like to make their ill-fated arbitrage plays...
239189
I don't want to create a conspiracy theory here - that the gas companies haven't built refineries, so that the supply has remained steady whereas demand skyrocketed, driving up the price...as the companies have seen quarterly profits that are unheard of.  I won't try and say that this was a carefully constructed plot on their behalf, ahem.  Well, ok, I don't think it is but I do think that they've been cheap and that their current plans to expand existing refineries won't solve our problems.\n\nDemand for energy will continue to grow (disproportionately here in the U.S...) and I really believe STRONGLY in seeking alternative sources of energy so that we can not only reduce costs for Americans (costs for living...crude oil costs affect EVERYTHING...prodution, shipping...driving up prices...costs to commute, etc.) but will reduce our dependence on foreign oil - doesn't get much better than THAT!!