Forbes has an interesting article on the opportunities offered by domestic unconventional resource development: "The commencement of the crude oil and natural gas revolution can be boiled down to one simple equation: Abundant resources + cost effective extraction = high production levels of unconventional oil and gas. The net effect is a reshaping of the U.S. energy industry and our economy. Additionally, the country’s increased reliance on natural gas (displacing coal) has already benefited the environment, and will continue to do so in the future. Carbon emissions hit a 20-year low (in the first quarter 2012 according to EIA) and some industry observers believe that the U.S. could meet the Kyoto agreement standards by 2020 (even though the U.S. did not sign it)."
Read it all.