In the 20th century, we built our daily existence around the production and consumption of fossil fuels. Our use of oil has given us more jobs, leisure time, cheaper goods, and affordable travel – just to name a few benefits. Oil has made our lives richer and more efficient.But it came at a cost. The latest catastrophe? COVID-19.The global coronavirus pandemic initiated a wake-up call to the world. It presented us with two choices: continue down the destructive path of fossil fuels or make the transition to green energy.Our exploration of renewable energy has the same potential to be just as fruitful as oil was a century ago, if not more so. And with the help of artificial intelligence, who knows what new materials or inventions we'll make next as we embark on the 21st century.The trillion dollar question is: who will be the next Rockefeller?