Solarize EVERY house in America as a way of reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
It is heartening that President Obama really wants to help steer the country toward less oil dependence. And he has directed us to "think big" when it comes to finding solutions to America's energy independence. And unlike most of the other presidents who have talked about it before him, President Obama has already done quite a bit to work towards expanding the use of clean/green/sustainable energy in the United States starting last year and proceeding into the future. But, considering the magnitude of the problem, the steps taken thus far are baby steps and we need to do so much more to achieve the goal of total energy independence. And, he could help that along a good deal of the way if he looked at all the current subsidies that the federal government provides and re-direct those that are not productive, such as, those that go to oil companies and to other giant corporations that don't need that extra money because they are already enjoying gigantic profits. Any subsidies that are given to banks also come to mind. Banks, since the bailout at tax payer expense, are enjoying huge profits, so why should they any longer receive any federal subsidies of any kind? That money would be much better spend funding a federal program that doesn't exist yet, which would be an agency devoted to solarizing every house in the USA with the maximal active and passive solar systems available for that house. That would be a very worthwhile thing to subsidize. All Americans would benefit from it. And, it would turn each and every home in America into a power generating station. I have a friend in San Diego who converted her house to solar power and since then has had all the energy she and her household needs, but her electric meter has run backwards and she has sold energy back into the grid. It's a win-win situation all around. But, most people don't have the resources that they would need to convert their homes over to solar power. That's why a federal agency set up to help and federal subsidies given to home owners to convert their homes would be necessary. That would be a good way to put government to work for all Americans. And it would greatly reduce our use of fossil fuels, put more energy into the grid that would be extracted and would be sustainable forever. I would say that that is one infrastructure thing that pretty easily could be done to help solve our energy problems and meet our energy needs.
Additionally, these solar power panels could/should be made in America, which would provide more American jobs and help increase the manufacturing sector of the economy which, as we know, needs help.
Solarizing every house in America would help everything, everyone in every way. I can't think of a single negative that it would cause. And, it would be sustainable forever.