>>
>>>We the ostensible First World moral trendsetters are long past due to kick-start a change in our energy gluttony.
>>
>>We did, it's called nuclear. The rest of the world has embraced what we started and then stopped.
>>
>>>Bonus: biodeisel, hybrids, ethanol discussions on the rise. None is a viable alternative at scale, but all are excellent starting points. Also: Mopeds could become cool again.
>>
>>If you really want to get an alternative energy source online then lets do it seriously. Offer a BIG chuck of money (like 5 billion) to the first company that develops a clean source of energy that produces something like 10-20x the amount of energy it takes to create it.
>>
>>>
>Jake;
>
>What this country needs is more nuclear power plants like Rancho Seco! :)
>

>I have created software for the Nuclear Power Sector for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). If a reactor blows up – it could be my software! :)
>
>Come to think of it I have only lost one client and that was the World Trade Center! My track record seems to be a problem! :)
>
>While attending engineering college I had the option to obtain my degree as a nuclear engineer. This was in 1969 and the field was wide open. It seemed like a good opportunity but I chose electronics.
>
>I would truly like to assist in the development of “alternative energy sources”. I helped put men on the moon while working on the Apollo and LEM projects. Becoming independent of oil as a source of energy is something that we must do and quickly.
>
>Tom

Rancho Seco is mere miles from my house and I am still angry that it's closed. I took a tour of it when I was in grade school and ever since I wanted to work there. I was originally accepted into UC Berkeley as a nuclear engineering major. After 2 years two things had become clear. 1) I'd rather work with more modern languages than fortran. 2) To have a career I would need to move to another country, likely France.

"Becoming independent of oil as a source of energy is something that we must do and quickly."

This is almost true. If you're talking about foreign oil then I completely agree. However, there is plenty of oil to be had locally. The Gulf, Alaska and the tar sands of Canada to name 3. The only reason there is a supply problem is because it is impossible to get any new drilling or refining. Unless of course you are China.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/27/224539.shtml?s=ic

America's energy policy (none) is a joke.