Paying More for Gasoline to Fuel Alternative Energy Exploration

By Brigitte L. Nacos
Today, for the first time in more than three years, the price for a barrel of crude oil fell below $50 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In many regions of the country the gasoline price dropped below $2 a gallon in more than 20 states—about half of the cost some four months ago. With unemployment rising and no end of recessionary conditions in sight, many Americans breathe a bit easier when they fill up their cars. Yet, the news about falling oil and gasoline prices is more bitter than sweet because of the direct relationship between the cost of old energy sources and the development of new ones. When old energy is cheap—or let’s say relatively cheap--interest and investment in alternative sources tend to drop regardless of the long-term consequences for a nation mostly dependent on foreign oil.

President-elect Obama has promised to change America’s energy policy that up to now was most of all for the benefit of the oil industry and others in the old energy sector. Even if the future president can convince congressional majorities to sign on to his ideas and funding requests, he must also enlist the private sector and the public at large to support an all-out effort toward new energy sources and energy independence.

Government alone cannot do the job. The private sector is the engine for developing various kinds of alternative energy sources and, in the process, firms and jobs that cannot be outsourced to companies and workers abroad. Unless the price of oil and of all old energy remains at high enough levels to add profitability into the calculus of alternative energy, entrepreneurs will not get involved and car companies and other corporations will not change their ways drastically.

Europeans have all along paid significantly higher gasoline prices than Americans—an important reason for their far greater commitment to alternative energy. However unpopular it may be, Barack Obama as president should use the bully pulpit to get an additional federal gasoline tax enacted. Although times are bad now, there is a need now to make a sacrifice in the service of the public good.

This “patriot surcharge” would keep gasoline prices at levels high enough to make alternative energy projects feasible. Proceeds would fund and subsidize the development and production of new energy sources and of cars and machines powered by alternative energy.

We have had enough real and metaphorical wars—so, no war on energy dependence. What we need is a president who inspires and a populace that joins a nation-wide movement for energy independence. 

Comments

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[Wheels on Road]

First of all congratulation for such a great site. I learned a lot reading article here today.

[WheelScene]

Hope he takes a decision as early as possible on this issue.

Rose.

[Brigitte]

Steven, sure--I did.

[newrepublican]

Hey Professor,

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Would you mind changing the address to he New Republican on your blog from "newrepublican.wordpress.com" to "thenewrepublicans.net"? We just underwent a major site revision.

Best,
Steven