A country's vision for developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is typically propelled by three important drivers - security, cost, and environmental impact. The U.S. currently accounts for a quarter of the world's total oil consumption, with domestic demands necessitating - at an ever growing cost - a net import of more than 50% of the oil used in this country. At the same time, Brazil, because of its forward thinking on energy strategy, is today energy independent. As emerging economies around the world increase their petroleum use by large margins and as large fractions of...

A country's vision for developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is typically propelled by three important drivers - security, cost, and environmental impact. The U.S. currently accounts for a quarter of the world's total oil consumption, with domestic demands necessitating - at an ever growing cost - a net import of more than 50% of the oil used in this country. At the same time, Brazil, because of its forward thinking on energy strategy, is today energy independent. As emerging economies around the world increase their petroleum use by large margins and as large fractions of...