The high cost of oil is already putting a strain on budgets across the country. Dan Kohler, with Wisconsin Environment, says that could help to build interest in clean energy technologies. He says the publics' attention is much more focused on the issue now, especially as more of their paychecks go into fueling their cars and heating their homes.
Kohler says state and federal officials need to push for making new and existing buildings more energy efficient, by adopting zero energy use standards. He says such steps could result in buildings and homes generating all the power they need to operate, and possibly enough extra to add to the available power supply.
Kohler admits the price tag for technologies such as solar and wind energy may turn some people away from adopting them. However, widespread adoption can drive costs down and also create incentives to move the country in a cleaner direction.
Wisconsin Environment estimates that adopting cleaner energy standards could cut US energy consumption by 11-percent.