Take a look at this
www.gtsav.gatech.edu/outreach/workshop/ ... hoover.pdf
Copy and paste the link Also google Gulf Stream Energy
The basis idea is toplace turbines in the gulfstream of the coast of Florida. The technology appears sound and construction looks set to begin in the near future.
If fully scaled, Gulf Stream turbines could provide a massive amount of energy for Florida and the US. Of course, it would take a while for such a project to be completed and might not have a real effect for a long time. However, it certainlywould reduce or dependence on natural gas for electricity (NG provides about 17% of our electricity needs).
Two other articles that I have read involve using bacteria to produce electricity for water treatment plants, this way they would not have to draw from the grid, indeed they could even produce electricity. The main significance of this is that 5% of the US's electrical energy is used to treat waste water. Thats a small but significant reduction in our demand.
The second article is from The Economist. It appears to me to be the same concept as the so called solar tower in Australia except it uses wind. Take a look it was in Spetember's issue.