We made our weekly trip into town to do our grocery shopping today and I noticed that a gallon of gas now costs more than $4 here on the Plateau. I know the price is higher in other parts of the country, but now the pain has come home.
For the past couple of weeks the airwaves have been filled with people talking about the energy crisis, There has been lots of talk, but very little discussion. I have some questions I would like to see answered.
Some people say drilling will do no good because it will take 5 – 7 years for the oil to become available. When will alternative fuels (hydrogen, fuel cell or all-electric) become available? And by available I mean available enough that I can drive the 650 miles necessary to visit my children.
If we don’t begin new drilling now and the new alternatives aren’t available in 5 – 7 years, what do we do?
The United States pioneered nuclear power for generating electricity. Both France and Norway now get a higher percentage of their electricity from nuclear power than we do, and they manage the nuclear waste problem by re-processing uranium. Why can’t we help the environment by replacing at least some coal- and oil-fired power plants with nuclear power plants?
It is said that the oil companies have leases on 68 million acres, but are not drilling on any of them. Why? How many of those acres are tied up in law suits or other challenges?
Wind power is touted as an energy source of the future. One of the largest wind farms in the country is planned off the coast of Cape Cod, but is being challenged because it would destroy the view. What do we do if more alternative energy sources are blocked and no petroleum sources are available?
As I said, I’ve heard a lot of speeches about energy, but have not heard any answers to these questions. And unfortunately I’ll probably have even more questions before the problem is solved.
One more question for now: Is hot air an energy resource?
Tags: Energy, Environment
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