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Energy Independence NOW!
Energy is the root of many of our problems today. The United States is the (Second) largest oil producer in the world; however, we are also the greatest consumer of oil. The US has not been energy independent since 1970. Today we consume approximately 22 million barrels per day. That is a lot of oil, about quarter of the world’s total daily production. Our ravenous appetite for oil contributes to our huge trade deficit. Inflation is on the rise because of oil and so are interest rates. We are spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars trying to stabilize the Middle East. Our national deficit is on the rise. Iran can thumb its nose at the UN and continue enriching Uranium because it knows we will not dare risk taking their 4 million barrels per day off the global market. We are propping up oppressive dictators and funding radical Islamist. The economy is raked with energy uncertainty. We can do something about it.
1. Produce 100% of our electricity from none-fossil fuels. We should make Hydroelectric and Nuclear power plants the backbone of our electricity grid. Use Renewables like wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal where possible. However, we have to get comfortable with Nuclear energy and build more plants. This solution would produce ZERO greenhouse gases and free up natural gas as well as our considerable coal reserves for other uses.
2. Produce 100% of our domestic transportation fuel through a combination of CELLULOSE ethanol (not to be confused with the corn-based ethanol) and synthetic gas, diesel, and aviation fuel produced from coal. Cellulose ethanol can be produced from grass, leaves, agricultural waste, wood scraps, and yard trash, anything with cellulose in it. The cost is about 50-70 cents per gallon. Mix it with 15% synthetic gas made from coal and you have E85. It only cost approximately $200 more to manufacture an engine design that is E85 compatible. Require all domestically sold cars to be flex fuel compatible. In addition, E85 produces 80% less greenhouse gases then petroleum so it’s good for the environment. The result will be stable transportation fuel prices and lower greenhouse emissions.
3. Raise taxes on imported oil and the consumption tax on gas bought at the pump. First, the proceeds will be used to build the infrastructure needed to make America energy independent and then poured into alternative energy research such as fuel cells, hydrogen production, and fusion technology.
The technology is on the shelf. We can do it. All we lack is the will. To say we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in Iraq because of terrorism is like saying the American Civil War was about state’s rights. We are in Iraq and the Middle East because of oil, plain and simple. As global demand for oil increases so will our economic uncertainty. We have to eliminate our need for foreign oil, and ultimately our need for fossil fuels. Think about it, billions of dollars spent in America employing Americans instead of billions of dollars leaving our country for Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Nigeria. Instead of propping up oppressive governments, we will be employing Americans. Instead of building Iraq’s infrastructure, we will be building our own. No one's family member or friend will have to go overseas only to return disabled or in a body bag because of oil...
You need to write all of your state and federal political representatives. Let them know this issue is important to you. Educate yourself on the issues. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Oh, and tell a friend to do the same!
Energy is the root of many of our problems today. The United States is the (Second) largest oil producer in the world; however, we are also the greatest consumer of oil. The US has not been energy independent since 1970. Today we consume approximately 22 million barrels per day. That is a lot of oil, about quarter of the world’s total daily production. Our ravenous appetite for oil contributes to our huge trade deficit. Inflation is on the rise because of oil and so are interest rates. We are spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars trying to stabilize the Middle East. Our national deficit is on the rise. Iran can thumb its nose at the UN and continue enriching Uranium because it knows we will not dare risk taking their 4 million barrels per day off the global market. We are propping up oppressive dictators and funding radical Islamist. The economy is raked with energy uncertainty. We can do something about it.
1. Produce 100% of our electricity from none-fossil fuels. We should make Hydroelectric and Nuclear power plants the backbone of our electricity grid. Use Renewables like wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal where possible. However, we have to get comfortable with Nuclear energy and build more plants. This solution would produce ZERO greenhouse gases and free up natural gas as well as our considerable coal reserves for other uses.
2. Produce 100% of our domestic transportation fuel through a combination of CELLULOSE ethanol (not to be confused with the corn-based ethanol) and synthetic gas, diesel, and aviation fuel produced from coal. Cellulose ethanol can be produced from grass, leaves, agricultural waste, wood scraps, and yard trash, anything with cellulose in it. The cost is about 50-70 cents per gallon. Mix it with 15% synthetic gas made from coal and you have E85. It only cost approximately $200 more to manufacture an engine design that is E85 compatible. Require all domestically sold cars to be flex fuel compatible. In addition, E85 produces 80% less greenhouse gases then petroleum so it’s good for the environment. The result will be stable transportation fuel prices and lower greenhouse emissions.
3. Raise taxes on imported oil and the consumption tax on gas bought at the pump. First, the proceeds will be used to build the infrastructure needed to make America energy independent and then poured into alternative energy research such as fuel cells, hydrogen production, and fusion technology.
The technology is on the shelf. We can do it. All we lack is the will. To say we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in Iraq because of terrorism is like saying the American Civil War was about state’s rights. We are in Iraq and the Middle East because of oil, plain and simple. As global demand for oil increases so will our economic uncertainty. We have to eliminate our need for foreign oil, and ultimately our need for fossil fuels. Think about it, billions of dollars spent in America employing Americans instead of billions of dollars leaving our country for Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Nigeria. Instead of propping up oppressive governments, we will be employing Americans. Instead of building Iraq’s infrastructure, we will be building our own. No one's family member or friend will have to go overseas only to return disabled or in a body bag because of oil...
You need to write all of your state and federal political representatives. Let them know this issue is important to you. Educate yourself on the issues. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Oh, and tell a friend to do the same!
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