Oil companies forsake all alternatives, as they cut profits. Care for profits is above everything. I don't mean just alternatives for fuel (ethanol, hydrogen from plants) and energy (wind, solar, tidal), but also for materials like plastic, motor lubricants, etc.

There are several useful plants that grow well in harsh land without much water, if nothing else they suck CO2 from atmosphere and accumulate solar energy, which is a lot cleaner than solar panels. Solar panels look as clean energy, but it's not as a lot of energy is used for production and a lot of water polluted, which is one of reasons for their high price.