All the energy we use on this planet comes from the sun. Either it is a concentrated by product of photosenthysis and stored over millions of years (coal, oil natural gas), fissionable material (nuclear elements from the formation of the solar system), bio fuels (near term un-concentrated photosenthysis), wind and tide energy (weather driven by radiant energy from the sun assisted by gravitational influence from the moon and sun), solar (real time direct conversion of radiant energy from the sun) or geothermal (core friction caused by gravitational forces of the sun).

There is only one source of energy and it is the sun. The sun is also responsible for warming the planet. Find a Stargate and perhaps we can snag one of those nifty ZPMs from the Ancients…but until then.

The problem with alternatives like wind, solar and bio-mass is they are un-concentrated and expensive (at present) to produce. Even if we succeed in these we will still need coal, oil and natural gas to make many of the other necessities of life that do not involve cars, trains, aircraft or any other forms of energy conversion that utilize oxidization (burning) of the fuel.

Mitigating our energy situation will require we take all paths. We must conserve, develop existing concentrated photosynthesis sources, develop non-concentrated photosynthesise, direct radiant conversion, climate driven kinetic conversion, gravity induced geothermal and fissionable sources.

There is no such thing as Energy Independence. Even if the US evolved to where we used all domestically sourced energy we would still be vulnerable. If all of our trading partners are not also self sourced with energy then the goods we buy on the world market will contain the energy premium we thought we escaped by being “energy independent”.