A couple of contributors to our Rants and Raves column appropriately note that we can’t quit fossil fuels cold turkey. At the same time, we can’t ignore the dangers to our environment created by these types of fuels which underscore the need to have a national initiative to develop cleaner alternative fuels.

At the moment, we have sporadic efforts to better harness wind, solar and bio-mass fuels. But it has not become a national cause as was our initiative to put a man on the moon.

Many scientists have said that we’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to using solar power. Some inroads have been made in this regard, but again, no national consensus to embrace alternate fuels research and development so that one day those who come after us will have the benefit of cleaner energy.

Given the great minds of our past and our present, it would seem that we have the tools for much greater advancement. What we are doing now is mostly “dabbling.” No we can’t just abandon fossil fuels overnight as some might suggest. Such a move would cripple us economically.

And likely, no single source of alternate energy will be the answer to a lesser dependence on fossil fuels. Rather it would seem that our future is best served by a broad approach, tapping into all the resources available to us and discovering where they can best be applied in the context of energy needs.

The idea that we have enough oil to last for centuries could very well become a moot point if we poison our environment. If there’s a way to make fossil fuels cleaner, then so be it. Go for it.

But let’s also take full advantage of solar, wind, bio-mass, hydrogen, etc. In othe words, we need a balanced energy equation. It’s time to quit “dabbling” and to fully embrace a national alternate energy initiative.

If our great minds can put a man on the moon and bring him home safely, then we would be way off course to think that making great strides in alternate energies is beyond our reach.