Is it time for a sidestep on the energy debate?

The current argument over climate change seems to be going nowhere fast. Republicans, at least some of the presidential contenders, seem less and less likely to take it as a serious issue. Democrats and environmentalists are still unable to push big ideas, like a cap-and-trade system, through Congress.

One idea has been to expand the debate from focusing mainly on climate change to focusing on the issue of whether the United States will have an affordable, reliable energy supply down the line. In both cases, the mission is to wean the nation off its overwhelming reliance on fossil fuels and expedite the development of practical alternatives.

Public Agenda’s research on public attitudes,