Dependent America

Well gas has gone over $4.00 a gallon and the world's oil supply isn't going to increase anytime soon. What does it take to get this country to see the light (and not the one from the oil lamp.) There are many alternatives to fossil fuels. Rivers could be lined with tidal mills. I imagine the great plains would be a good place for wind mills seeing how its all flat. Not to mention solar panels down south. I know our relationship with oil goes further than just us needing it, but we have to start changing now or we're going to be in a scramble to compensate our dependency.