Re: No More Dependence on Foreign Oil- Coming to Your Neighborhood Soon


"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:f7uk42l1nkjs13j10k744ei25hp1fi22mk@xxxxxxxxxx
On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 18:33:02 GMT, Fred Bloggs <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

http://ur.rutgers.edu/medrel/science/coal.shtml

Of course! But do you think the "greenies" allow it? We can't even
open up the Alaska fields.

...Jim Thompson

It should be possible to mine and process coal without excessive damage to
the environment. The real problem is our (mostly USA) overconsumption and
waste of energy. I consider myself a "reasonable" greenie. I oppose opening
Alaskan oil fields because it just delays the proper solutions to this
problem, and allows Big Oil and other corporate interests to continue to
make obscene profits while despoiling the environment for future
generations. My recommendations include:

1. Add a federal surcharge of $2/gallon on gasoline, and give every
individual a $500 transportation tax credit. Use the surplus for vehicular
efficiency research.

2. Reduce long haul trucking and replace it with much more efficient rail
transport.

3. Make passenger car rail transport cost effective and convenient for long
trips.

4. Use advertising techniques to convince people it is cool and sexy to
drive a vehicle that gets 40+ MPG rather than compensating for sexual
inadequacy and workday frustrations by promoting dragster acceleration and
competitive (rather than cooperative) driving.

5. Put real money into alternative fuels, hybrid and full electric
technology.

I have a simple 1998 Saturn SL1 which averages 35-40 MPG, and a 1989 Toyota
4WD pickup which I use only when necessary, and it gets about 22 MPG.
Technology exists to double these figures without degrading performance.
Aggressive driving habits will knock 30% off these numbers even with the
most efficient technology. When people actually consider their vehicle and
public roads as tools for transportation, rather than an amusement park
thriller or an arena for competition, our lopsided demand for oil will
become more in line with the rest of the world. Most people will not
voluntarily change their habits, so taxation (with rewards for
conservation) is probably the only means that will work.

As engineers and hobbyists in the field of electronics, we can contribute
by designing systems which can increase efficiency, especially with EVs and
possibly a hybrid conversion kit such as I am attempting to design. See
http://www.smart.net/~pstech/SHAMPAC.htm

Paul E. Schoen
www.pstech-inc.com


.

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