Throughout Congress’ month-long recess this summer, a camp of Republicans stayed in Washington and showed up on the House floor in steady rotations, to protest Democrats’ unwillingness to push through their energy plan (which focused on offshore drilling and tax subsidies to oil companies) just before they left for vacation. 

And while Nancy Pelosi has become an easy target for Republicans and everyday folks ruefully watching the numbers fly by on the gas pump (just google her name along with “oil” or “offshore drilling”), she and her fellow Dems have proposed a new plan. This one seeks middle ground, focusing on renewable energy along with some concessions for offshore drilling. 

But is wind/solar and geothermal really a viable alternative to oil? Read this (which focuses mainly on wind) and find out, and stay tuned for Congress’ decision.