Those shooting for "energy independence" say that domestic energy supplies should be developed. Naturally, leaders in each energy industry want us to concentrate on their product. Oilmen want to open pristine and offshore areas for drilling to find more oil. Coal experts say that since coal is so cheap, let's concentrate on Clean Coal, a contradiction in terms. Natural gas leaders push natural gas development. Corn producers are trying to get us to concentrate on ethanol.
But we are in the middle of a much bigger problem than putting up with Saudi Arabia's oil prices: climate change. All carbon fuels - coal, oil, ntural gas and ethanol - emit CO2, the main culprit producing global warming. The oil we produce emits just as much CO2 as Saudi Arabia's oil. Coal is the dirtiest energy source around. It's pointless to waste time trying to set up special CO2-resting places by sequestering the CO2 in the ground or in the sea; our limited resources can be applied more usefully elsewhere. Natural gas is cleaner than coal, but emits CO2 nevertheless. Ethanol emits somewhat less CO2 than the other carbon fuels, but it does emit CO2. In addition, ethanol made from corn raises the price of food dramatically.
Yes, $4.00 gas is a problem. But domestic drilling for oil will not change the price of oil in the short run because it takes many years to develop an oil well. Nor will it have much effect in the long run because the amount of oil we can produce is miniscule compared to the world production of oil - which is 80 million barrels per day, of which U.S. consumes over a quarter. "We're addicted to oil," as President Bush says. Similar consideration apply to the other carbon fuels.
Both John McCain and Barack Obama say they will work for "energy independence" and for conquering global warming. However, when John McCain suggests a gas-tax holiday in order to reduce the price of gas, it makes me wonder how serious he is. Both McCain and Obama favor clean coal development. This makes me wonder about Obama's committment, as well.
Please don't come after me, but I must say that the high price of gas is a blessing in disguise. It is forcing us into conservation of gas, and experts say that conservation has the potential of reducing our gas usage by 1/3 to 1/2. Even more important, the high price of gas means that alternate non-carbon fuels - nuclear, wind, hydro, solar, geothermal and batteries - are relatively less expensive than before. More alternate fuels will be developed. Replacing as much as possible carbon fuels with non-carbon fuels is the real solution to the climate-change problem.
If we do a good job in alternate-fuel development, it may enable us to both conquer the climate-change problem and gain a measure of energy independence..
