AMORY LOVINS

Chief scientist and chairman, Rocky Mountain Institute

Chosen because: Lovins proposes the reinvention of the automobile through innovations such as the hybrid-powered Hypercar, a vehicle developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute with ultralight composite materials. Lovins, 63, claims the Hypercar could achieve a three- to five-fold increase in fuel economy. Lovins has written or is the co-author of 29 books, including Winning the Oil Endgame. He has briefed heads of state on energy policy. Lovins advocates a "negawatt revolution." A negawatt is a unit of energy saved, the opposite of a watt. America can be the master of its energy future or watch while others call the tune, he believes.

Quote: "China has an energy policy based on radical energy efficiency and leapfrog technology. They're not going to export your uncle's Buick. These cars are going to be made super efficient. Will we in the United States continue to import efficient cars to replace foreign oil? Or will we make efficient cars and import neither the oil nor the cars?"