Can this happen?

[coollikeme]

Can the USA run there country totally on alternative energy. So we can sell are oil to other counties to cover are debt and pay for SS# and health care?

[Dan.Linehan]

It's possible, with massive solar power initiatives. Like covering the whole desert with the solar dye cell technology.

[WanderingOak]

It would be possible, but I seriously doubt if it could be done, just because we wouldn't have any incentive while we still have oil. Hydrocarbons are extremely energy dense, compared to portable renewable energy sources. Biofuels require almost as much energy to produce as they provide. Meanwhile, solar/wind/hydro (and nuke) can produce electricity for the grid, battery technology is not good enough for long distance transportation away from said grid. Most people would want to keep our current standard of living, be able to drive anywhere we feel like, and buy as much cheap junk as we want.

It would be easier if we could drastically cut our consumption, by changing our standard of living and upgrade our infrastructure. Rail is considerably more efficient than passenger cars or long-haul trucking (400 tons/mile/gallon for freight, or 328 MPG/passenger), yet America's rail infrastructure is in horrible shape. Part of the sad state of America's rails is due to the myth of 'freedom of the open road', although in actuality, our entire transportation infrastructure is crumbling.

In any event, it would take decades to upgrade our infrastructure to be completely reliant upon renewable energy. Brazil gets 95% of their electricity from hydroelectric power, and 18% of their liquid fuel comes from renewable sources. However, it took them nearly thirty years to do so, and I am not sure if America wants to go down the exact same road that Brazil is. By the time we do have the infrastructure in place to be completely reliant on renewable energy, our oil reserves will be considerably lower than current, and the global market for hydrocarbons may be completely different than what it is now.

[jokerman]

We have no choice but to ween ourselves off oil, as the world's supply is finite and quickly dwindling. In about 30-50 years, there will be no oil left.

[coollikeme]

when oil is going to run out. Even the scientist aren't sure, when or if oil will run out. So what if somehow oil regenerates and never runs out. Then what are your thoughts?

[Starman]

Fossil fuels give the most energy per volume, and is relatively easy to produce. We've built an entire infrastructure on this fuel. Wanting or needing to develop another fuel of equal or greater yeald has nothing to do with whether it's chemically or physically possible.

I don't think alternative fuels can replace fossil fuels 100%. Even a 50% replacement will be difficult, like going back to dial-up internet access after you've been using broadband for years.

*Starman