The energy situation is a peculiar conundrum.

People don't want drilling in what some areas considered pristine.

People don't want nuclear because they keep seeing reruns of "China Syndrome," remember Three Mile Island, and fear a US-based Chernobyl incident.

People don't want wind farms because they are ugly.

People want solar, but think solar panels are ugly (looks, again!).

People call for conservation, yet the Soccer Mom Taxicab System still consists mainly of large SUVs which challenge The Villages shuttle buses for passenger capacity.

As far as the oil companies drilling in areas where leases exist but no drilling occurs, the main reason is the cost benefit. Most of these non-drilled areas have all had test soundings done, and the cost to recover the oil is much more expensive (sometimes up to 1,000% more) than other producing areas. So, if it costs $50 a barrel to recover crude oil in a producing area, and the projection is a cost of $150-500 per barrel in other areas (legally allowed to drill, but is it worth it?), no sane business operation would make the investment and sunk costs to drill in an area where it's a money-loser from the beginning.

European nations have had high gas prices for years, mainly because they tax the death out of gas-at-the-pump. Add that to the high cost of parking there (land, especially), and the result is mini-cars for most.

Unfortunately, the "we have to conserve" concept has been a US issue since the early 70's, and like everything else, it"s a flash in the pan. Once things seem a little bit rosier, it's back to mega-vehicles because you can't legislate attitude.