Increase Energy Sustainability

Sustainable energy use is energy use that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their energy needs. Achieving sustainable energy use requires that energy be

• Developed from renewable resources

• Produced by cleaner, more-efficient technologies

• Used more efficiently and with greater conservation

Almost all of the cars and trucks we drive run on fuels derived from oil, which is non-renewable. While there is some debate as to how long this resource will last, we will eventually have to find new ways to power highway vehicles.

Researchers are hard at work exploring new fuels and vehicle technologies:

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  Hybrids, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are areas of intense research, along with efficient technologies for gasoline and diesel vehicles.

• Renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel can help offset petroleum use.

• Other fossil fuels such as coal, shale oil, tar sands, and natural gas are another possibility.

In the meantime, it makes sense to use fossil resources such as oil more efficiently to buy time to develop new and better energy sources and to make the transition to these sources smoother and less expensive.