ENERGY is indeed going to be A GIGANTIC issue for at least the next 5-10 yrs. Whether it may be oil, oil distillates(sp?)...natural gas, heating oil, diesel, coal, solar, wind-power, fusion, nuclear technology, etc, etc...

BUT, IMHO, for the UNforeseeable future, OIL will dominate the financial investment markets, via research, exploration, development, drilling, pipelines, oil tankers, gasoline, refineries, etc...

There is MUCH oil in the world, but MOST of it is too difficult and/or expensive to find &/or drill... via building oil rigs, etc.

LIGHT SWEET CRUDE OIL, which is primarily located in the MIDDLE EAST, sells @ a huge premium, taking very little effort to refine as gasoline, heating oil, etc.etc