The decline in the production of the fossil fuel has hurt key consumers such as power and fertilizer firms that have been forced to raise their imports.

WSJ: Cairn India to Invest $2 Billion to Raise Output

New fossil evidence seems to confirm that a key ancestor of ours could walk upright consistently - one of the major advances in human evolution.

BBC: Fossil find puts 'Lucy' story on firm footing

The key development, says Professor Kemp, alongside a move away from fossil fuels, is a so-called "smart grid".

BBC: Promise, but daunting challenges for electric cars

Economists generally agree that the key to addressing climate change is to raise the cost of burning fossil fuels, either directly, through a carbon tax, or indirectly, through a cap-and-trade program.

NEWYORKER: Greening the Ghetto

As a result, companies and governments need to find a way to bridge the current fossil fuels era to the next era, where clean energy will become a key energy source.

FORBES: Every Company Is An Energy Company

The key is to understand that this is a key component, a key part of a comprehensive strategy to move us from an economy that just runs on fossil fuels to one that relies on more homegrown fuels and clean energy.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Visits Wind Turbine Blade Plant