http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article4258181.ece

“Western energy executives invariably insist that there is no plausible alternative to oil.”

When one considers that the world’s transportation system runs almost entirely on oil, it’s hard not to come to the above conclusion. Automobile, trucks, airplanes and non-electric railroads are dependent on fuel refined from oil. There are two difficulties in coming up with a “plausible alternative.” First is the enormous amount of fuel needed to meet the transportation needs now met with oil – and with an ever-increasing population, not likely to dramatically decrease even in the face of continued price increases. The second is that there is not any plausible alternative fuel that I’m aware of now being developed that could replace oil in the foreseeable future.

Something that would help a great deal – and will play an important role in the near future – is increased use of electricity as a transportation fuel. We now have electricity powered trains used mostly for commuters in dense urban areas. Railroad electrification should be expanded for also hauling freight – instead of the oil-fueled trucks that clog our interstates. Commuters can also benefit from use of electricity in “plug-in hybrids,” hybrids, and battery powered cars. This would of course increase the amount of electricity that would need to be generated and transmitted – new power plants (nuclear for environmental benefits) would be needed as well as upgrades to the transmission system and wouldn't be cheap. However, this could and should be done.

Note that if the problem really is transportation, windmills and solar cells aren’t going to play – even though they always get mentioned. It’s time to start with projected needs and plans for meeting them based on reality. 

Jim