atm renewable energy elludes us for a couple reasons,
lets start with solar
Solar panels while a good idea, dont work the same in different parts of the country, ie In a dry arid region theyll get a higher output of energy than in a very humid area, the water absorbs a considerable amount of energy in the air.
Wind, There has been alot of speculation about wind energy but the sad fact is you need alot of wind turbines to make any considerable amount of energy, plus putting them in areas like tornado alley would probably spell disaster, oh your power plant was destroyed by a tornado... a new one will be built in...10 years after the red tape is gone.
hydrogen, While a great way to stored energy, it is actually difficult to do it, with the amount of energy that is used to create it, i can see this replacing gasoline eventually, but we would need a distribution system and a conversion system for most vehicles.
and there was some study into a compressed air vehicle, but i doubt we would ever go there cause its a uniquely good idea...and politicians are in essence lawyers, who think they know more than the experts in those subjects. ie "global warming"/climate crisis....they dont listen to scientists who have proof that they are wrong. ie energy, look at how much red tape there is to build a power plant. or the amount of taxes on gasoline.