Wider Acknowledgement of Energy Issues

Has anyone recently seen the focus on energy while watching commercials lately? While I watching Meet the Press on Sunday morning, I saw two adds by a petroleum trade organization. The focus of these advertisements was to suggest energy saving habits. One line of advise was to keep your tires properly inflated and another showed an image with everyone in the scene wearing slippers. Other ads were from Ford, and GM touting their commitment to energy conservation.

This is what I see from this petroleum ad:
When the Got Milk? ad campaign was presented by the dairy industry is was to declining sales. The focus of the ads were to keep milk in the front of peoples mind to mitigate declining sales. Now, looking at the petroleum industry, they have received some pretty harsh criticism lately from ballooning profits and the increase in prices for oil and natural gas.

To what end does this ad campaign service the petroleum industry? I believe that it is public relations and a "pass the blame" effort. The concept is this: yes, gas prices are high and you can conserve so that it effects your wallet to a lesser degree. That is, it is not the petroleum industries fault, it is the wasteful consumer. Contrasting with the Got Milk? campaign is that the petroleum industry wants...to sell less petroleum?

This is what I see from this US automotive ads:
Ford and GM have an appalling record on fuel economy. Now their focus is that they are as concerned about the environment as anyone else. Again, a public relations effort because their fleet fuel economy are among the lowest in the industry. Ford brags of the first hybrid SUV that is powered with Toyota licensed technology. These ads appear as GM releases a $427,000 Camaro that has a ridiculously large engine. Toyota on the other hand is developing high performance electric hybrid sports cars- the Volta.

America's two largest automakers and the petroleum industry are looking for the consumer to curtail consumption of fuels through more efficient autos and energy saving tips. It is apparent that we are in a transitionary phase from carbon to non-carbon based fuels.

I am ready to embrace a paradigm shift in fuels and this shift is acknowledged throughout the broader economy. For instance, Walmart is installing solar panels on the roofs of their enormous buildings.

Critics may say that this is due to tax breaks. That is true, although you rarely hear of how much national money goes into securing our energy interests. Isn't is nice that we pay less than almost all other countries for a gallon of gas. We all owe our thanks to Uncle Sam and our fleet of war ships throughout the world for that.