The Total Energy Solution

Implications: There are several initiatives that the US must take, in parallel, to achieve limited "Security Independence".  First, we must recognize that what is really needed is energy security, not independence which is realistically impossible.  What is possible is energy resilience and reduced vulnerability.

This can be achieved with higher ethanol production using cellulosis, more nuclear power, better use of hybrids and battery powered cars, increased use of domestic oil and gas assets, improved use of renewables, greater conservation and eventually, a shift to a Hydrogen economy.  The major factors which must be considered are discussed below.

Analysis: Energy security in the US requires seven initiatives which must be pursued in parallel.  First, we need to produce more ethanol.  However, corn or sugar produced ethanol is not the long term solution.  The necessary feedstocks are not available.  Cellulosic ethanol, using readily available "green waste", has both economic and environmental advantages and recent technological advances are promising with commercial scale facilities likely soon.
Second, we must aggressively build new nuclear power plants.  The 103 units operating in the US have proven to be safe, reliable, efficient and cost-effective.  Further, the advanced units from Westinghouse/Toshiba (PWRs), GE/Hitachi (BWRs) and Areva (EPRs) are substantially safer and less expensive than current ones. Third, we must increase the use of, and improve the performance of hybrids and battery powered cars.  Some tax concessions would help and there are significant improvements already underway. Fourth, current domestic oil and gas assets must be used more effectively.  Off-shore recovery, development of ANWR and oil shale/tar sands can be accomplished in an environmentally sound manner and the output can be quickly moved to US markets. Fifth, we must maximize the use of renewables.  Solar power, using photovoltaics, has a place.  So too does wind power. Sixth, we must pay more attention to conservation.  It is not the sole answer, as some maintain.  However, it is part of the solution.
There is a seventh approach which needs to be accelerated.  Hydrogen is ubiquitous in our environment and the technology of harnessing it is begining to be understood.
This author is prepared to discuss each of these in more detail.