Produced for public interest, the Environmental Education Group has prepared this two-part review of the current state of energy utilization, the nature of the energy crisis, and approaches to energy production. The major section is a presentation of alternative sources of energy that are neglected, are of possible aid in the near future, or are modifications of current energy sources. Also, it endeavors to analyze each alternative with respect to economic feasibility and environmental impact. The options considered are: water power, wind power, geothermal power, use of waste and garbage for energy, coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear energy in the form of fission power, breeder reactors, fusion power, devices and methods for more efficient energy conversion (thermionic, thermoelectric, photoelectric, fuel cell, magnetohydrodynamics, rocket engine, special battery, superconductivity, and power, gas and combined cycles), conservation of energy, and low energy options. The second part is an in-depth observation of two important sources of renewable energy--hydrogen and solar energy--which, in addition to fusion power (as yet not commercially or technically harnessed), hold the most hope of offering total economies that will be self-sufficient and will hold pollution in check. (BL)