The U. S. Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Review, published September 7, 2004, provides a wealth of statistics and research into the use, production, and availability of energy throughout the world. The “holy grail” of alternative energy

FIGURE 15.1 Energy consumption by source. Source: Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration: Annual Energy Review, 2003. With permission.

sources is to address the use of petroleum since it accounts for 39.4% of energy consumption followed by coal and natural gas, each accounting for 23.2% (Figure 15.1) [1].

The presidential prime-time address was not purely political; the United States is by far the largest user of petroleum, followed by Japan whose consumption is quickly being surpassed by China’s budding development (Figures 15.2 and 15.3) [1].

The United States’ geographic nature of dispersed cities and urban centers has created the reliance on personal transportation and thus the leading consump­tion of petroleum. Despite efforts to institute mass transit, there has been little or no effect on the increasing use of this form of energy. The current adminis­tration believes the answer to be hydrogen fuel cells, stating the desire for a child born in 2003 to have a fuel-cell vehicle as their first car (January 28, 2003). However, there are nearer-term opportunities, as described in this book, which should be the focus of the country’s efforts.