Where is the National Energy Policy???
While our elected pols are busy giving away the store up on the hill with their "new energy bill", we are still left with no rational energy policy and billions in give aways. I wonder why the pols don't look at a couple of these "peanut gallery" ideas?
1. Brew one type of gasoline. If California and 50 other large metro areas have to burn reformulated fuel, why not the rest of the country. Many of us have been burning this stuff for years. It consists of 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol. I know, ethanol is more expensive to produce, but at least we are paying US companies and farmers to grow the stuff, plus it reduces the amount of imported oil by up to 10%.
2. Adopt European diesel standards. Something like 40% of all cars sold in Europe are diesel powered. Diesels get better economy, and with the euro blend fuel will meet tough emission requirements. What's the benefit of a diesel? The 2005 VW Jetta diesel is rated at 46 highway mpgs while the gas Jetta is rated at 31. That's a BIG difference. The cost difference is about $3,400. The cost difference in Europe is generally about $1,000. I want more diesel choices, how about you?
If 40% of the cars in the US were diesel powered, we would import 12% less oil. Add up the two simple options above and our oil imports fall as much as 20%. Seems like a better choice than drilling holes all over the artic to me.
Where are our esteemed lawmakers on these two issues? Maybe these solutions are just too simple. Maybe some more "peanut gallery" folks should be making decisions in this country.
1. Brew one type of gasoline. If California and 50 other large metro areas have to burn reformulated fuel, why not the rest of the country. Many of us have been burning this stuff for years. It consists of 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol. I know, ethanol is more expensive to produce, but at least we are paying US companies and farmers to grow the stuff, plus it reduces the amount of imported oil by up to 10%.
2. Adopt European diesel standards. Something like 40% of all cars sold in Europe are diesel powered. Diesels get better economy, and with the euro blend fuel will meet tough emission requirements. What's the benefit of a diesel? The 2005 VW Jetta diesel is rated at 46 highway mpgs while the gas Jetta is rated at 31. That's a BIG difference. The cost difference is about $3,400. The cost difference in Europe is generally about $1,000. I want more diesel choices, how about you?
If 40% of the cars in the US were diesel powered, we would import 12% less oil. Add up the two simple options above and our oil imports fall as much as 20%. Seems like a better choice than drilling holes all over the artic to me.
Where are our esteemed lawmakers on these two issues? Maybe these solutions are just too simple. Maybe some more "peanut gallery" folks should be making decisions in this country.
posted by slates at 9:00 AM
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