The coming US energy crisis

The US is facing the high probability of a major energy crisis, causing the US to revert back into a double dip recession of major proportion, or a true 1920's style depression. Coupling the current public uprisings across North Africa, the psychological impact of the Japanese nuclear disaster, and the potential growth in demand for hydrocarbon fuels; the US, and the World, may well have limited choices to broaden our energy base with less polluting energy choices while combating climate change. There is a sustainable path available that will require the formation of dedicated US Energy Policy. The plan will require putting a price on carbon and building bridges between government and industry that are cooperative with real time targets. An Energy transition will require a minimum time frame of 50 years and C02e targets in the range of, but not to exceed, 450ppm. The results of such an effort may well allow American to take a meaningful step in leading the way out of this dilemma of being the world's largest national consumer of energy resources.