The first was high-pressure steam and CO2 gas injection. Then came fluid injection, using a fluid related to dishwashing detergent. Now, we use fracking sands to get to reserves that used to be uneconomical to extract out in the past. And now, they're looking at mining methane hydrates from the ocean floor to tremendously expand our natural gas supply.
In fact, there is such an excess of natural gas supply that it's being used to make plastics, motor oils and even motor fuels. No wonder why coal is going out of favor--natural gas burns extremely cleanly, which means the air in our cities could dramatically improve.
100 years from now, I expect energy generated to be a mix of thorium-based nuclear power and fusion power. And so much power will be generated that most of our trains will run on electric power and there will be massive seawater desalinization projects that will make the Sahara Desert bloom again and permanently eliminate the threat of drought in the southwestern continental USA.
I had no angst this past election cycle, I knew in my gut DJT would win. However, not a single candidate the 2 on their side and the 17 on ours mentioned thorium.
IMHO it is our next moon shot. Something big to rallye behind and spring board us into a new future. PDJT has a lot on his plate cleaning up 30 years of everyone's messes. When we get to a point of sanity were we can dream big, perhaps the words Thorium Reactors will roll off his lips.