March 9, 2010 (Brett Clanton, Houston Chronicle) While most in the energy business agree the worst of the recession has passed, differing views emerged Tuesday at CERAWeek 2010 where the industry should focus its efforts in the years ahead.

On one side was the oil and gas industry, which said fossil fuels will be the dominant energy source for decades and that improving technology and abundant natural gas supplies hold the potential to extend that life further.

Vastly outnumbered on the other was Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who said the U.S. must accelerate efforts to wean itself from oil in what will amount to a “new industrial revolution,” or risk losing the clean technology race to other countries and doing further damage to the environment.

“Time is running out, and the train is leaving the station,” Chu said in a speech at CERAWeek, a premier industry conference hosted by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates. Read the full story here.