IMO, take the low hanging fruit first. So offer tax breaks for new and existing homes to switch to solar. Through solar and wind, if (utility supplied) electric energy consumption could be cut by say, 25-35%, we would be much better off than now.

The government is nothing more than a collection of people with agendas at home. While my suggestion would affect the coal, rail and utility interests, it wouldn't take away the pie that the oil companies have been getting. Answer the question, what is the best longer term alternative for internal combustion engines? Brazil has already switched to ethanol. Big Oil (and Bush) would fight that tooth & nail. But the American people need to become more educated so they can make demands. As gas prices zip toward $4/gallon, IMO, fewer of us will remain fat, dumb & happy. Is ethanol (with a better production process) the best option? Hydrogen? I don't know the answer. I do know that there are many technologies out there, but until oil/gas becomes overly expensive, there may not be enough of a push to fully develop them.

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