Originally Posted by benajah

I have to admit, I get really frustrated. Here is my story...for all of the irony...I was a double major in school, Urban Planning (geography dept) and Sustainable Development (anthropology dept)..Then I went to work for a major oil company (Chevron) doing sustainability in construction (green and LEED building).
Here is the attitude of the oil companies. Oil will run out soon, how soon is debateable but soon. There will likely be no decent substitute for gas and diesel but biodiesel, which will be really expensive, and electric vehicles.
Many of the major oil companies are looking at buying up all the renewable energy companies, and it has already started. We bought Pacific Gas and Electric's renewable energy division a few years ago, with the goal of it being pretty much the future of the corporation.
Most likely the future of local transportation will be three things...electric vehicles, biodiesel electric hybrids, and bikes, with subways, electric buses for the longer distances.
Larger electric trains for the really long distances, and planes will be cost prohibitive for personnel travel...a coach ticket will cost what a 1st class ticket costs now which is pretty much what it was like in the 50s and 60s.
The way things are looking, electricity is the only form of energy we can produce that does not have major ecological consequences, and even it has some pretty bad problems with it.
The next fifty years are going to be a very very interesting time to be alive.