I've heard stories that some large oil companies buy-up inventors' patents for more environmentally friendly technologies (auto engines for example). They tend to squash the idea before it puts them out of business.
I agree that many of us aspiring engineers do have the ability to improve and promote more environmentally friendly methods of producing power. It's a hot topic here at NU. I have a friend who loves to hike (he's president of the outdoors club), he's majoring in MechE for the sole reason to do work on fuel cells and other alternative energies. He's writing a 5500 word proposal (for a class) to NU trying to persuade them to use solar panels to defray energy costs.
Alternative energies won't really be a hot seller until engineers make it "faster, better, cheaper." That's why invention is so important. Eventually, the USA will have to adopt these policies, the fuel will run out. Let's just hope it's not too late.
I think for right now, us as consumers could help by either purchasing hybrid vehicals or producing a little of our on power for our homes. Dean has a wind generator at his house
