Oil and coal have built our civilization, created our wealth and enriched the lives of billions. Yet their rising costs to our security, economy, health and environment are eroding and starting to outweigh their benefits.

The good news is that the tipping point where alternatives work better and compete on pure cost is not decades in the future; it is here and now. And that tipping point has become the fulcrum of economic transformation.

Listen to RMI Chief Scientist Amory Lovins explain to Merrill Lynch's Pamela Faatz how Reinventing Fire offers a new vision that can revitalize business models and end-run Washington gridlock.

"America is equipped in entrepreneurship, capital and technical skills to lead this revolution," Lovins says. "And, by using our most effective institutions - the dynamism of the private sector - this is a transition business can lead. So let's roll."

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