In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush surprised many when he announced imminent federal investment in the development of new technologies. America's "addiction to oil," and imported oil in particular, could leave the country in a perilous condition, especially if the fuel is coming from unstable parts of the world, Bush said.
In response, the president announced the Advanced Energy Initiative, a plan that he said would yield a 22 percent increase in clean-energy  research and reduce oil imports from the Middle East by 75 percent. The plan also seeks breakthroughs in the ways in which Americans power their homes and offices, and promises more investment in solar and wind power, nuclear energy, and zero-emission, coal-fueled plants.
"We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen," Bush said. "We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass."
Although such statements promise a bright future for the country, some observers are skeptical. Can technology finally break America's oil addiction, or will the high cost of switching to alternative energies ultimately defeat the president's initiatives?
Lofty Ambitions
In detailing ways to reduce reliance on oil, Bush proposed several tactics both for the short term and for the years ahead. The Advanced Energy Initiative, considered the framework for these strategies, looks to speed up research for homes and businesses in three major areas of alternative power: coal, solar, and wind.
Coal provides more than half of the nation's electricity supply, and the government estimates that America has enough to last for the next 200 years. To tap the potential of the reserves, the president's 2007 budget includes $281 million for development of clean-coal technologies.
The budget will put $148 million toward the Solar America Initiative to speed the development of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight directly to energy. These solar cells are of particular interest to rural areas, and research will focus on how to incorporate cells directly into building materials. In the long term, the administration is aiming for "zero-energy homes" that produce more energy than they consume.
Wind power also will get some attention, with $44 million aimed at helping to improve the efficiency of wind-harvesting technology, especially in environments where gusts are scarce. (continued...)
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