Energy and the President

I was just reading this article and I realized that too many people do not understand the dynamic of the pricing of gasoline. The assertion is that Bush needs to pay more attention to rising fuel prices. Yes indeed, we all need to pay attention to rising fuel prices. The solution is for us to change our fuel consumption and integrate new technologies into our way of life.

There is growing demand from China and India for a commodity that has a decided finite supply. Growing demand and finite supply results in increased cost. Does the president need to pay attention to something so basic? (I certainly hope not) Some say the answer is to build more refineries. Okay fine, build more refineries and let us see oil companies try to recover the capital investment required to build these facilities and the resulting increase in the cost of gasoline.

What can Bush do?
The president can help by providing the impetus and national direction to rely upon petroleum as a minority of energy. America can be on top of energy technologies, if private and government investment was directed into solar, wind, tidal generators, etc. Although unrealistic, I'd like to see Manhattan Project style spending to advance alternative energies.

What do you do if you want something you can't afford? (like gasoline at $4 or $5/gallon) Most people make sacrifices (sorry Hummer driver, sorry, there is no equivalent to your gas guzzler in a hybrid). Look at the selection of hybrids when you buy your next vehicle and use this site.

The Big 3 automakers are focusing on Hydrogen as our next step. (Although Ford is bolstering Toyota by licensing their hybrid technology). Getting from A (gasoline) to Z (hydrogen) requires getting through many intermediate steps. Inexpensive hydrogen technology is years from development, not to mention the development for the distribution and the technological barriers for Hydrogen storage. Your hybrid will be rusted to pieces and you'll be driving your second or third electric car before the hydrogen economy is developed.

Review and research the following: Ghawar, Peak Oil, EIA, Oil Sands (which are not economically valuable due to Return on Energy(ROE) of 1.5:1)

ROE = Ratio of energy obtained to energy expended