According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2003 North America has about 10 years of oil reserves left. By 2014 nearly all oil will have to be imported from abroad. As a result our entire transportation system will be at the mercy of international politics, terrorists, and war mongers. So we ought to be investing in alternatives, but which ones?

1. Drill in the ANWR.
2. Hydrogen fuel.
3. Coal liquefaction.
4. Cellulosic bioethanol.
5. Solar energy.

We don't know how much oil is in the ANWR. But it might extend our reserves significantly. Since survival is more important than anything else, let's do it!

Hydrogen fuel is BS. It mostly comes from natural gas reformation processors, and natural gas is already used for heat and electrical production.

Coal can be processed into gasoline and diesel. The U.S.A. is blessed with a full 25 percent of the entire world's coal reserves. This supply would last more than 80 years if it were our sole source of automotive fuels. Investment in coal liquefaction is therefore a good idea, in spite of environmental concerns.

Cellulose is the most abundant substance made by living things. It can be hydrolyzed into sugars and fermented into ethanol. E10 fuel requires no modification to existing engines, and cars that use E85 fuel produce near-zero net CO2 emissions. There are also new fuel cells that can use ethanol. Cellulosic Bioethanol would be a good investment too.

Solar power ? Solar power will not help the transportation sector unless we all take the train! But don't count on it.