[cornholio]

I think there is a lot of pessimism on this board regarding technology and the future... While SUV's cannot roam the earth forever there are viable energy alternatives which have the potential to greatly expand sustainable energy production...

I dont have the technological background to dissect all of these technologies, but they do paint a picture of alternatives which, taken together, might power a robust (if downsized) industrial economy....

1) Nuclear Fission using breeder reactors can provide unlimited fuel using today's technology (uranium supply is not limited to less than 100yr)
http://www.argee.net/DefenseWatch/Nucle ... actors.htm

2) Nanotechnology may aid in transition to a hydrogen economy http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... wsid=21895
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellTo ... 73,00.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... astic.html

3) Hybrid car technology
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/200 ... rers_x.htm

4) Fuel Cells, working today
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8228479/
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/05 ... ollo_.html

5) Combination of nanotechnology and solar technology
http://www.forbes.com/2004/10/21/cz_jw_ ... print.html
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellTo ... 73,00.html

6) Nano-technology creating alternatives to platinum (a limited resource) to make conversion to a hydrogen fuel cell based fleet of cars sustainable
http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=815

I am not saying that all of these technologies will be easily developed... But I do think that given necessity for innovation and financial interest in these areas, and time (another decade or two?) nuclear, hydrogen and solar power may seem much more viable than it is today....