For the practical minded, here are a few facts worth remembering:
1. 70-80% of the petroleum consumed in the US is for transportation, not for power generation.
2. Solar energy, like wind energy, is much more efficiently generated in large, single projects, such as by power companies.
3. After the nuclear power plant failures caused by earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the nuclear power option is dead in the US for another 40 years.
4. Their is no good, all-purpose alternative fuel to replace gasoline in cars. The other power sources for vehicles have significant disadvantages, including limited range, limited trunk space, higher initial cost, and lack of refueling infrastructure.
Short of reducing our population and/or significantly changing our life-style, there is no "green solution" to both eliminate our dependence on foreign oil and significantly reduce the use of carbon-based fuels.
