i also agree that there is not 1 magical solution to the energy crisis that is looming. i have considered the problem, and feel that it will require real investment in alternatives, as well as a fundamental change in the way we use our resources.
1. the suburbs are not sustainable. while new variants of the internal combustion engine will delay the inevitable loss of gas, the price of gas will make suburban living collapse. why should anyone be able to live in the middle of sprawl and drive a hummer? its a ridiculous waste of resources.
2. variants to the internal combustion engine will become widespread. hybrid cars are very fuel efficient, but i foresee the development of a hybrid diesel. consider that diesels get maybe 3x the fuel economy of a gasoline engine, if one were couple with hybrid technology a small car can easily get in excess of 60 mpg. also consider that a properly set up diesel burn almost 100% clean. not quite zero emissions, but pretty close. the electric motors would take care of the problem that diesels have with cold starts and slow accelerations.
3. renewable fuels-biodiesel looks promising because it can be made from rapeseed oil or soy oil. it also burns cleaner that diesel and its emissions are less toxic to the environment. while it is true that the process of growing and refining biodiesel will require energy imputs, they can be obtained through supplements.
4. supplements-i am looking mostly at nuclear energy. while its true that nuclear power is not a renewable resource, it does have deeper reservoirs that oil, and its a clean source of energy. assuming that one properly processes and stores nuclear waste, it is a zero emission energy source.
5. solar power is often overlooked because its fundamental flaw is that it only works when the sun shines. what happens when its night? no lights. but that doesn't mean that it should be disregarded altogether. photovoltaic arrays can be built on rooftops that are currenly unused (wasted) space. during daylight hours they can supplement the power grids, and during the night the grid will fill in the gaps (with #4, nuclear power). it is zero emission and will work for the next 3 billion years, at which point the sun will explode.
6.wind power-also zero emission, can be used to supplement the grid. it would be ideal for our vast and windy expanses on the great plains. similar problem to solar, it only works when its windy.
i think that if society is willing to implement the 6 fundamental changes that i described, as well as some heavy committments to conservation, we may be able to survive with a quality of life somewhere near where we are at right now. though it could be wishful thinking.
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