The non-profit research group Rand Corporation, and even some United States politicians, are of the opinion that, with a serious effort, the U.S. could, by 2025, have 25% of its energy needs supplied from renewable alternative energy sources.

That possibility, which seemed unthinkable a decade ago, has arisen because alternative energy prices have been on the down escalator, waiting for fossil fuel prices to pass on their way up.

Renewable alternative energy–solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and water–already provides 6% of the power consumed by Americans, Rand reports. But, if the power from hydroelectric projects is removed, alternative energy supplies only 3% of what America consumes.

The study was commissioned by the Energy Future Coalition, a Washington consortium which supports the development and increased use of alternative energy.

The study indicated that, if the U.S. were to achieve a target of 25% alternative energy use by 2025, it would reduce its need for petroleum products by 2.8 million barrels per day. There would additionally be the environmental benefit of reduced pollution, with its possible contribution to global warming.

And, for those who fear that a switch to currently more expensive renewable alternative energy would have a detrimental effect on the economy, Rand says that, if those costs continue to decline at the current rate, total U.S. energy expenditures would not increase, and could drop by as much as 3%.

Its cost has always been the biggest argument against a greater adoption of alternative energy. But, as the price for all fossil fuel derivatives–gasoline and heating oil in particular–has continued to climb, and the possibility global warming has gained greater credibility in the scientific community, renewable energy sources are generating greater interest.

And, while U.S. based petroleum giant Exxon Mobil has said that its own research does not support Rand’s findings, British Petroleum has recently decided to invest $70 million to double the capacity of its Frederick, Maryland alternative energy solar panel manufacturing plant.

Exxon, of course, could be protecting its own interests–should the demand for petroleum decrease, its price, and Exxon’s profits, might decrease as well.