The Northern European countries are making tremendous strides in developing wind-turbine power. It has been happening on our West Coast. Obviously, the technology is there. And it wouldn't take any more time to set up windmill farms than it would to drill and dig. The use of unstable nuclear energy could be obviated.
Wind power is only one alternative source.
We could redirect some of the tax refund Congress plans to give to their big money friends into some serious long-term research. I am old enough to remember rationing. It was inconvenient , but we willingly accepted it, considering the cause. But I'm not sure that this Congress or this bunch of Democrats really wish to fly in the face of Bush and Cheney and the oil and coal interests. And the crowd cheers.