Although oil is a major energy source here in the United States there are other alternative power sources.
One common alternative is to use wind turbines. It is pollution free and the land around the turbines is usable right up to the machinery. It doesn't take long for wind turbines to get set up and running. Also, it is a very cost effective power source. According to the American Wind Energy Association it can cost 5 cents to the Kilowatt hour. A bad thing about using wind turbines as a power source is that it requires a minimum wind speed and since wind is so unpredictable it may not be able to fit the needs of a large number of people.
There is also solar power. It is also pollution free and is fuel free. But, it is sunlight dependent, it has limited storage options and very expensive.
Natural gas is another alternative.
United States
United States
United StatesIt is cleanest of all fossil fuels. Vehicles that run off of natural gas could reduce carbon monoxide exhaust by 70%, carbon dioxide by as much as 30%, and nitrogen oxides by 87% according to the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition. Also, it is very abundant in the U.S and is storable. But, on the other it is very expensive as well.
Finally, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy if car companies could increase the fuel efficiency of cars, SUV's and minivans to 35 miles per gallon, it could save as much as 1.7 billion barrels of oil a year by the year 2020.