For some U.S. citizens, solar panels, wind turbines, and fuel-efficient cars have become the ultimate patriotic statement. With a war looming in the Middle East, green groups are framing the cause of energy conservation in terms of national security. They are issuing reports, creating websites, and hitting the airwaves with the message that true security will only come when the U.S. reduces its dependency on foreign oil. The nation has heard such calls before — during World War II and the Arab oil embargo, for example — but this time, the feds certainly aren’t leading the charge. Instead, many plain-Jane citizens, as well as environmental groups, are speaking up. Their voices seem to be tapping into a need for Americans to be asked to do their part for the war on terrorism.
