Oil Spill

We now know the hazards of “drill baby drill.” Now’s a good time to raise the price of gasoline to match the other industrialized countries of the world, to wit $6/gal. Yup! Check out the chart on http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/

Currently New Jersey is paying $ 2.50 - 2.75/gal. If the federal government raised taxes on gasoline to $ 6/gal we could begin to pay down the national debt and revitalize our infrastructure which is in sad shape. According to government statistics in 2007 we Americans used 3.4 trillion gallons of gasoline. At current prices that would raise about 5 trillion dollars for infrastructure rebuilding. For instance, they say that 57% of energy is wasted because of our antiquated electric grid; it needs an extreme make-over.

There are a number of other benefits to raising gas prices: increased used of mass transit; appeal of small, fuel- efficient cars; and generally increased consciousness of energy consumption.

Embrace Radical Efficiency:

Lots of energy could be saved by simple measures around the home, such as better insulation, the use of solar water heating systems, better shading and ventilation. Re-use, repair, recycle!

Further, let’s look at alternative sources of energy:

Wind Power: Some say the environmental impact is negative, but I say far less so than oil spills. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKSLzIBT_dY See below on storage

Coal: There is a plant in NJ being built by Future Gen, see:

http://www.purgenone.com/purgen-one-at-a-glance.php

The problem isn’t the plant itself, which ultimately green, but with coal supply. We shouldn’t use mountain-top coal at all, and deep mining and strip mining need to be strictly regulated by the EPA and OSHA.

Micro nuclear: see http://www.nuscalepower.com/

But the problem of safe recycling of the nuclear fuel still exists, as for larger units.

Solar Energy: see http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/pros_and_cons_of_solar_energy.html

See below on storage

Hydro Power: We’ve reached the limits

Biomass: In 2005, the U.S. departments of agriculture and energy teamed up to project the annual supply of biomass for energy use. It turns out to be the equivalent of 4.1 billion barrels of oil, or 58% of the countries annual oil consumption.

Storage: Both wind power and solar power require storage devices, i.e., batteries. When the wind blows and the sun shines they generate electricity, but it’s not necessarily when you want it. Therefore you need to store it.

I am indebted to the June 2010 issue of “Discover” magazine for many ideas and quotes.