I agree with you that Americans have become dependent on others and it was not always like that nor should it be. I also agree that hydrogen fuel cells are the wave of the future for powering our cars although too unstable and inefficient at the moment, both of which I understand can be overcome. What you need to understand and consider is that it takes energy to separate hydrogen from oxygen and that energy must come from somewhere, whether nuclear (cheaper than solar and wind) or fossil fuels. Solar is possible but what do you do when its cloudy? It also takes time and money (a great deal of it) to convert your infrastructure to support alternative energies. I think we should invest the time and money now to work through the problems and begin implementation of our most promising (economically and environmentally) alternatives. We can also drill for oil safely off of the Florida and California coast and should do so immediately. Galveston is a convenient comparison but the tarballs are the result of currents that push oil bubbling up from reserves in the Gulf or seeping from ships or barges onto its beaches and probably has little or nothing to do with oil production on the rigs off of the Texas/Louisiana coast. I'll remind you that a bad oil spill in the panhandle did previously occur the result of a passing vessel. Don't think that refusing to drill insulates Florida beaches from a big mess (just ask New Orleans that had a collision involving an oil barge on the Mississippi River right off the French Quarter). I admire the concern for our waters and I love the thrill of catching a wave or watching someone else do it, but don't be so close-minded that the entire country suffers for surfers. Talk to some engineers (not affiliated with the surf groups) and gain a little more knowledge - it might alleviate some of your concerns.
