Randy, I didn't mean to suggest that shale oil literally doubled our proven oil reserves. I don't know how much it expanded our known reserves. I was using shale oil as an example to illustrate the point that oil exploration and technology expands and improves even as technology for alternative energy improves and that quantum leap breakthroughs happen in the fossil fuel industry even more frequently than in the alternative fuel industry.
The point is that alternative energy doesn't make sense until it is as cheap as hydrocarbons. So even though alternative energy gets cheaper, the bar keeps getting higher for alternative fuel to compete with fossil fuels because the petroleum and coal industries are improving their efficiencies at the same time. The joke I heard in college was that the world had 20 years of oil left, and that every 20 years they find another 20 years' reserves.
Geroge Will had an excellent column on this recently.
Oil's Expanding Frontiers - George Will - Townhall Conservative
The problem is that oil and coal are so efficient that it will take a huge technological leap to create an energy source that provides as much energy per pound or gallon, that is as easy to use and transport, and costs as little as fossil fuels. We just don't have a technology like that right now. When turbo diesels make almost the same mileage at a fraction of the cost and infrastructure expense as hybrids, it's clear that the technology isn't there yet.
Until the cost/benefit analysis changes in favor of alternatives, forcing alternative energy onto consumers will be like pushing rope.