The world, and the USA with only 2% of the world's petroleum, is rapidly running out of petroleum, while spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Without petroleum we will have little food, energy, transportation, fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics: therefore we must begin, at least begin, to research replacements immediately! The Europeans already have extensive electric train networks that can be supplied by wind turbines built and running. They will survive and we will not after the end of petroleum, in 20 - 60 years!
For the sake of our children and great great great great great great...great grandchildren, we must find alternatives immediately! I have some suggestions at www.greenmillennium.eu open-source and free!