Energy Breakthrough?

A curious report on today's speech by President Bush:

Saying the nation is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that would "startle" most Americans, President Bush on Monday outlined his energy proposals to help wean the country off foreign oil.

Less than half the crude oil used by refineries is produced in the United States, while 60 percent comes from foreign nations, Bush said during the first stop on a two-day trip to talk about energy.

Source: The Associated Press via My Way News - [President] Bush: U.S. on Verge of Energy Breakthrough (DEB RIECHMANN) I am doubtful if it is going to be a real breakthrough. The plural is used and my guess each is more a step than a leap that is the breakthroughs are evolutionary in nature and not revolutionary.

People don't realize how energy hungry our society is. Yes, our vehicles consume a large percentage of that but everything not done by human hands (and even that comes with an external energy cost, ie producing food) requires energy. Not only energy but chemicals.

A large number of chemicals used to make our lives what they are, are derived from petroleum.

None the less. I am more confident we can wean ourselves off of the petroleum habit than many Middle Eastern nations can wean themselves off of petroleum dollars (or petroleum euros).

President Bush was at a battery plant that produces batteries for hybrid cars. I'm very doubtful of hybrid cars.