In 2008, Former Vice-President Al Gore challenged the United States to become independent from fossil fuels for all of our electrical needs: "So today, I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100% of our electricity from renewable energy and truly carbon-free sources within 10 years." (7/17/08) Mr. Gore specifically mentioned in his speech the falling prices of wind and solar energy technology, in contrast to the rising prices of oil and coal.  Since 2008, oil prices dropped, but have once again risen to near the levels of four years ago. 

President Obama, in numerous speeches, has also strongly advocated that the U.S. develop "green" energy to become independent from fossil fuels. 

With the cost of oil and gasoline rising out of control again, after rising in 2008, then falling back, before the recent roller coaster rise - and in light of the recent oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and the coal mine disasters in the U.S. and Chile, along with past nuclear power plant accidents (Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima) - it has become evident that there is an increasingly urgent need for the development of alternate sources of energy.  Especially needed are safe, economically feasible sources of renewable energy, such as ocean wave, tidal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy.   

As for wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy, these are certainly needed on a large scale, such as large wind and solar farms, using giant wind turbines, and large collections of solar panels, plus huge hydroelectric power generators associated with very large dams, such as Hoover and Grand Coulee.   

However, wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy generators are also needed on smaller scales, as well: 

• Local wind turbines and high-tech versions of the old-fashioned windmills are needed to supply individual farms and even individual urban homes, schools, and small to mid-size businesses with electric power that can supplement, or -- with proper storage capacity -- even supplant, the need for electricity from the power companies. 

• Local high-tech solar panels are needed to do the same for homes, farms, schools, and small businesses.  With proper state-of-the-art storage capacity, these solar collectors can supplement co-located wind devices and can run a home or a farm continuously through a mix of breezy and calm, sunny and cloudy days, and can even generate reverse energy that can be sold back to the power companies during periods of moderate or strong winds and ample sunshine. 

• Local high-tech small-scale hydroelectric generators placed along the banks of small and mid-sized streams and small rivers flowing through cities and rural areas.  Although there are some applications of small-scale hydroelectric generation for individual homes and small farms, most smaller-scale hydroelectric generation should be ideal for intermediate-sized users, such as large farms, larger businesses, universities, colleges, and large schools, airports, and small communities and municipalities.

• Local high-tech geothermal generators placed at strategic vents, where the earth's heat can be tapped, especially in the western continental U.S. and Hawaii.  There is the potential to tap undersea geothermal vents, if the energy can be transported onshore at a competitive cost, compared to other sources of energy.