It's not all Obama's fault: His plans to rebuild America's energy infrastructure have been hampered by the recession, and his efforts on global warming have been stymied by Tea Party wackos and weak-kneed Democrats in Congress.

Nowhere has the political power of coal been more obvious than in presidential campaigns.

So if you want to know how Exxon Mobil can make $10 billion profit in 90 days, just look around. The whole world was built for them.

Bill Gates is a relative newcomer to the fight against global warming, but he's already shifting the debate over climate change.

Coal boosters like to tout coal as cheap and plentiful - well, not anymore. At least not in China.

Mark Ruffalo, aka the Incredible Hulk, is the natural gas industry's worst nightmare: a serious, committed activist who is determined to use his star power as a superhero in the hottest movie of the moment to draw attention the environmental and public health risks of fracking.

When it comes to energy, cost isn't everything - but it's a lot. Everybody wants cheap power.