It will be interesting to see how the American driving public responds to the message sent out by President Bush last Thursday:

“Americans should be prudent in their use of energy over the course of the next few weeks,” he said. “Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.”

“: if you don’t need it”? The whole American way of life is tied to vehicles and mobility. Many of us live too far away to walk or bike to our jobs, our grocery stores or our churches. In most parts of the country, there are no viable forms of public transportation. We “need” our vehicles and we “need” that gasoline.

The president, of course, was urging voluntary restraint in response to what he and all of us hope will be a temporary gasoline squeeze triggered by reduced Gulf Coast production as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Gasoline prices that are soaring over $3 a gallon across the nation will help reinforce that message.

The nation has faced fuel shortages before. Gasoline was rationed during World War II when supplies had to be diverted for use by the military. During the 1970s, gasoline again was scarce and expensive because of the political situation in the Middle East. Long lines formed at the pumps, and many gas stations closed early and on Sundays to preserve their supplies.

The current situation is a reminder of just how dependent this nation is on oil and gas. It fuels our economy as well as our lifestyle. Being without it is more than an inconvenience; it’s a matter of national security.

Katrina also reminds us that, at some point, high prices, short supplies and long lines may not be a temporary circumstance. It may be our future, and it’s not a future that the United States has planned for very well. The global demand for oil is skyrocketing as developing countries like China seek greater supplies. Increased exploration or refining capacity may help us meet the demand for a while, but not forever.

Unfortunately, no refineries have been built in this country for years. Even if more crude oil was available and delivered to the United States, it could not be refined for commercial uses. Those in the environmental community have been successful in blocking new refineries and have placed greater restriction on coal-powered energy plants.

What are the alternatives? Wind energy? Nuclear power? Ethanol? What is the next generation of fuels to feed our economic engine and our desire for mobility? Will they be ready for action when we need them?

Researchers have been asking these questions for some time, but the need for answers and for a national energy strategy seems to be drawing more urgent. Americans can be “prudent” in their use of gasoline, but the day when we can say we don’t “need” it still seems far away.