The federal government is in a tremendously tenuous spot right now managing one of the worst financial crises in history, while simultaneously trying to wean the American economy off of fossil fuels. These efforts, portrayed by many as two separate and competing interests, are actually more synergistic than most people realize. For example, the recently announced Cash for Clunkers program is designed to encourage new purchases of fuel-efficient cars thereby reducing fossil-fuel consumption and generating demand throughout the automotive supply chain.