What would give me hope? "Step it up 2007" is a good start!

A fun issue of "Inventing Tomorrow", U of Minnesota magazine for Institute of Technology, topic "Energy alternatives", (Not online yet), but topics are cheaper solar photovoltaic with nanotech; using solar energy to produce hydrogen, improving the durability of wind turbine mechanics, more efficient generation of biofuels, hydrogen production from ethanol.
http://www.it.umn.edu/news/inventing/index.html

Absolutely GREAT research for hope that ONE DAY we can reduce our fossil fuel consumption, ideally BEFORE politics or geology reduce our consumption forcefully.

Now while I can't say anything bad at all about the research, my hopeless is not that we can't do better with renewables someday, it is we are depending on alternatives to perform a miracle - to seamlessly replace our ever increasing energy demands. I have grave doubts ANY combination renewables will replace our current consumption. It is just setting the bar much too high in my opinion to believe that renewable energy, energy coming from solar and geothermal power can compete on even ground with fossil fuels - concentrated energy created over millions of years and stored in the ground.

So what would give me hope? Something MORE than a token effort for conservation. Whether through efficiency or simply living lower energy intense lifestyles, I'd have a lot more faith if we collectively could set a goal in reducing our fossil fuel use - whether for the sake of global warming, or pollution or energy security I don't care.

Energy WILL cost more in the future. Sooner or later we will discover this. The smart thing to do is to make energy cost more now to promote conservation OR recognize this savings we have now should not be squandered, but invested in a future where we'll need less fossil fuels to live.

I look forward to the "Step it up 2007" day for promoting reducing our fossil fuel (CO2 production) use by 80% by 2050, again whether for global warming or energy security, it's the right direction and might be enough.
http://stepitup2007.org/

Wow! Not a single mention of peak oil or peak natural gas or the challenges of energy security! Still seems good.
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Key Facts About Step it Up: Step it Up is the largest day of citizen action focusing on global warming in our nation’s history.

• This is a truly a viral grassroots movement, organized online through word of mouth, email outreach and the online community.
  It is a nationwide campaign comprised of over 1300 actions being held on April 14, 2007 as part of a National Day of Climate Action.
  
• The actions range from a rally of thousands in New York City, to a handful of scuba divers off the coast of Key West, to a community of senior citizens in Ohio holding a global warming awareness day.
  
• The rallies are planned in every corner of the country, in 48 states, by people from all walks of life, which demonstrates the widespread demand for quick and dramatic change on the issue of global warming.
  
• All individuals, groups and organizations involved in these actions are hungry to do something big and they all agree on one thing: the need for substantial and rapid action.
  Despite the varied backgrounds of the participants and the uniqueness of each event, they are united in delivering a critical message: For Congress to put America on a course to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050.
  
• This is less than a 2% reduction per year.
  
• While many Americans are choosing to make the switch to new conservation technologies in order to cut emissions, only bold leadership from Washington can drive the large scale changes needed to stave off the catastrophic effects of global warming.
  
• This is a wake-up call to legislators. We want to show them that their constituents view global warming as the greatest threat facing our civilization today and are pleading for them to step up and take action.
  As a truly global crisis, global warming will impact everyone. However, the impact will be felt greatest among the most vulnerable of the world’s population. While global warming presents us with our most pressing challenge, it also presents our most inspiring opportunity. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that our solutions to this crisis take these populations into account.
  
• Unpredictably shifting weather patterns leading to both droughts and stronger and more frequent storms combined with rising sea levels will dramatically affect the already scarce resources hundreds of millions rely on for the basics of life.
  
• Stopping global warming will catalyze a new clean energy revolution which will benefit workers across the globe. We must—and we can—protect both their ability to provide for their families and also the long-term health of the environment.