I agree with the Nuclear assesment, Dylan. I think it would be the most logical solution to powering our nations. I've heard something funny - you know if they build enough wind turbines to power America it will alter the world's winds and actually cause global warming? Ironic.
The problem is we have an established, worldwide economy that is build on the foundations of crude oil. Fractional distillation provides 5 or 6 crucial uses of the black gold. Plane fuel (kerosene) is its own fraction of the oil, as is tar and asphalt for roads. Plastic, clingfilm, medicenes, alcohol (from ethanol) it has many uses. Not only directly into those products, but offering the ability for machines to fertilize, pesticide and harvest crops from around the world, take them by truck to a seaport and transport them thousands of miles across the world, back into trucks until we even get to them. Infrastructure from agriculture to business is almost entirely dependent upon Oil. The point is, we do not have any viable alternatives. At least, not any that can come online within the next 10 - 20 years. And certainly none that will cover the energy deficit - meaning whatever happens, we cannot, at this present moment in time, replace the energy that fossil fuels gave us. Somewhere in our modernized, western lifestyles, we will lose out. The problem is that when oil prices start to rocket up - over $300 a barrel will be a reality sooner rather than later - then it will have a chain effect beginning with the shattering of our economies and transferring throughout agriculture and transport. Even things you would think non-essential, for example the Tourism industries, will collapse (who could afford the plane fees?), and that will have a devastating affect on many countries, especially our European neighbours. We are literally one step away from a devastating global recession.
Energy = power, it always has done, and there will certainly be conflicts over the dissipating energy resources in the near future. If not over that, then certainly over Peak Water (or more accurately, Peak Fresh Water) which we are steadily approaching in some places where climate change has wreaked havoc on lakes and rivers. This planets resources cannot, even if all were evenly distributed, sustain the needs of everyone on the planet. And certainly it cannot be sustained if the West continues to be so wasteful - and I'm not saying thats a bad thing, I think we are all more than grateful of the luxurious lifestyle (by comparison) that we enjoy. But it will become increasingly difficult (and expensive) to maintain that lifestyle as the years continue. Quality of life will be a major sufferer for the West.
