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America could continue with it's economic dominance simply by removing the need to import energy. Ending our dependence on fossil fuels would put us in control of our economy and remove the current situation we are in where we are hostage to our need for cheap oil. Ending oil imports would go a long way towards fixing our trade deficit. By producing all of our own energy we could reduce the risk that we would be drawn into a war for energy resources in the future. If America does this and helps create the technologies to make this possible it will reap the rewards of the innovations that must occur to make this happen for generations.

Most people are also not going to want to accept a lower standard of living then they currently have. They want to be able to drive good size, safe cars. They don't want to be forced to use public transportation more then necessary. They don't want people trying to make them feel guilty about having a large house or having to large a TV. This view of the world is one that we should all take. The first step is to see a world of plenty and not one of shortages. If one feels that it is their social responsibility to live below their means to help save the environment then they should have that right, but they should not allow their smugness to destroy public sentiment by condemning others. We swim in an ocean of energy, just waiting for us to harvest it. Wind, Solar, Tidal, and Biomass are all renewable and are not commodities controlled by foreign interests. We should not ignore nuclear or even unconventional energy resources as well.

Several key technologies need to be studied and improved to move forward in a world without fossil fuels. Highly efficient, cheap solar cells are a must, as of this writing scientists are approaching 50% efficiency in the lab. We will also need better energy storage solutions, though great strides have been made in this area in the last couple of years. For the interim while we move away from fossil fuels we need to develop better ways to produce biofuels including biodesiel, biobutenol, and bioethenol these can be used in current equipment and will help tide us over as we move away from oil.

Electricity needs to be the primary focus as we move to sustainable infrastructures. We must use where appropriate wind, tidal, geothermal, and solar power. These are free and gifted to us by nature to not make use of them would be wasteful. Until we have good energy storage solutions in place it

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