While I like your idea, Chris, and in fact support taxing all domestic oil/gas production to support the extending of renewables, if, as and when the "bailout" happens, it is going to suck all of the cash out of all of the systems which the government can reach. I am more concerned right now about being able to operate in two months than how much I, or anyone else can get in the way of credits. I am truly concerned about a potential overall collapse - everywhere - than I am about anything else. When the Chinese, the Saudis and the Europeans all realize that not only do we just have a paper currency, it is being printed in our house of cards (I think that the Canadians and Mexicans already know how weak our economy is), they will also panic. Although stocks and oil are both up today, tomorrow and Thursday will extend the domestic panic.

(Maybe we can use the proceeds from the liquidation of the toxic assets to fund the renewables program ?)

I will also say that I think that most domestic oil and gas producers already know that we need to make other arrangements (like renewables), we also know that we cannot drill ourselves out of this mess, and we don't like being treated like we should be outcasts. Collaboration between the renewables industries and oil and gas producers could be had, IMHO, and we could all do a better job of seeking out that cooperation and collaboration.