We are going to need new sources of safe energy in the near future.
Despite all the work that is going on around the world, no energy source has come forward or appears promising in terms of passing the tests of financial, environmental and safety viability.
I believe "that new energy source" will:
1. Totally come out of left-field, be very exotic and a physicist will develop it (quantum field energy, harnessing gravity, cold fusion would fit in here but it doesn't seem to be a real process); or,
2. It will be based on current technology and current processes and someone will just develop a new twist on it (like the new refining process from Changing World Technologies which just uses higher temperature and higher pressures to refine any non-metalic substance (wood, straw, coal, animals, rubber, garbage) into oil.)
Those guys with the super critical water reactor might have something. Oil from turkey guts! Just in time for the winter heating oil squeeze. :D