Regarding the question whether the USA can produce 100% of it's own energy needs regarding motorised use, I saw a program on TV, PBS, where a man from India claims the US can Grow enough crops to process ethanol, biodiesel and whatever for 100% for it's own use, also the amount of land needed would be quite modest. Then he went on to explain, something about Market Forces,competition with Oil Companies, Vested Interests and a host of other Hurdles to overcome, he was in finance so that's where he got his knowledge from (he had the Riches to Prove it). I was interested in his talk, but failed to find a concrete formula to guarantee his findings. P. S. I have a book dealing with Solar Energy, dated 1903
CF not sure of the atmospheric bit, but in 1955 read where if the engine manifolds were designed to use American Gasoline, the foreign cars would get better milage than they already were. Claimed the US Gas was "Wet" whereas the European was "Dry. " Years later reading in The Enthusiast the HD motor magazine they had a Motorcycle and side car used for record attempts using Dope fuel, they were taking it to England to see what results they would achive there, but knew from the outset that the results would be lower there, owing to the air desity, atmosphere or whatever, but the Air would be the deciding final chapter. Unaware of the conditions for Motorcycle races in the US, but in Britain the final carburetor jeting would be decided minutes before the race depending on the Atmospheric Pressure.