Alternative sources of oil, such as low-quality tar sands, oil shale and coal, are drawing the attention of nations around the world &#8212; they're abundant and can help nations achieve the security of oil-independence. Energy &amp; Resources Professor Alex Farrell warns, however, that exploiting these sources to make synthetic fuels risks significant environmental damage and presents economic risks as well.<br><br><a href='http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/12/11_oil.shtml&#039; target='_blank'>http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/12/11_oil.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br>