U.S. energy independence is seen almost as a holy grail, and soaring shale production has heightened hopes that the country may actually get there. But not everyone's so sure.
There's excitement over the possibility that natural gas may overtake gasoline as primary fossil fuel for vehicles. There's one problem: Where would a natgas car fill up?
Observers say inefficiencies in the U.S. transportation system are helping to keep gas prices elevated, and the lack of pipelines make oil producers rely on railroads.
With the profiles of shale and natural gas on the upswing, energy watchers say renewed interest in an old process could help rehabilitate coal's battered image.
Citigroup recently cataloged a clutch of new technologies, including mobile payments and energy production, that are disrupting markets and sparking innovation.