The United States is the world's biggest consumer of energy. With 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S. uses about 25 percent of the world's energy, nearly $1 million worth every minute. Americans consume six times as much energy per capita, on average, as the rest of the world. According to David Green, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, dependence on foreign oil cost the U.S. economy about $7 trillion in the last 30 years.

Demand for oil is increasing, and competition for oil is growing worldwide. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 15 years from now the world will need 40 million more barrels of oil each day than it needs at present.

Energy demand in the emerging economies of Asia, including China and India, is expected to more than double over the next 25 years and match current U.S. consumption in less than 20 years. These countries' growing economies, and those of other countries like South Korea and Brazil, will intensify competition for oil.

Alongside these economic concerns is a growing concern over the health and environmental effects of pollution from burning fossil fuels. We are challenged not only to produce more energy, but also to produce and consume energy more cleanly and efficiently.