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Unprecedented investment in alternative energy technologies and growing awareness about the need for clean and renewable energy production have driven many states to initiate strategies to promote alternative forms of power generation, such as solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and wind power. Most current government strategies, however, fall short of what will be needed to build a truly reliable, affordable and clean energy portfolio in the U.S., according to a new study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

When given a list of seven technology categories to possibly target and invest money and resources over the next 10 years, 37 percent of U.S. respondents selected “fuel efficiency and alternative fuels” as their leading choice, according to a national survey commissioned by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in Virginia. The remaining choices provided by the survey, which was conducted in March 2008, were as follows (ranked by overall popularity):

• Medical – 30 percent;