Comments on: Dems Take On Gas Woes? http://donklephant.com/2005/08/22/dems-take-on-gas-woes/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:19:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Koskd http://donklephant.com/2005/08/22/dems-take-on-gas-woes/#comment-58865 Koskd Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:35:54 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=644#comment-58865 Good job. Good job.

]]> By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » Instapundit On SUVs http://donklephant.com/2005/08/22/dems-take-on-gas-woes/#comment-1620 Donklephant » Blog Archive » Instapundit On SUVs Thu, 25 Aug 2005 03:42:58 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=644#comment-1620 [...] Personally, I don’t see a future where I’ll own one, especially given the high gas prices. I know of other types of cars that can accomodate youngsters (if kids are in my future) and keep them entertained. [...] [...] Personally, I don’t see a future where I’ll own one, especially given the high gas prices. I know of other types of cars that can accomodate youngsters (if kids are in my future) and keep them entertained. [...]

]]> By: Engineer-Poet http://donklephant.com/2005/08/22/dems-take-on-gas-woes/#comment-1561 Engineer-Poet Tue, 23 Aug 2005 14:49:38 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=644#comment-1561 Our policy-makers know that the last administration to impose scarcity, even accidentally, got voted out of office.  It doesn't show much leadership to throw up their hands and say "It's not our doing" but it saves having to actually make a case for using less (and making wastrels pay), and it's safe. Things are changing.  <a href="http://www.commutercars.com" rel="nofollow">Commuter Cars</a> noted some time ago that electric vehicles were considerably cheaper to run than internal combustion so long as you don't need to make long-distance trips.  The recent run-up in oil prices has only made this more true.  Further, concentrator-Stirling solar powerplants appear likely to hit the market soon at $2/watt or less than 10¢/kWh.  (Gasoline at $2.699/gallon is over 40¢/kWh at the wheels.)  What we need is a policy push to get this stuff out there, get the economies of scale in production, and shove petroleum to the same status for transport energy that tallow candles now hold for lighting. (No preview?  Hope my HTML isn't mangled... no way to check.) Our policy-makers know that the last administration to impose scarcity, even accidentally, got voted out of office.  It doesn’t show much leadership to throw up their hands and say “It’s not our doing” but it saves having to actually make a case for using less (and making wastrels pay), and it’s safe.

Things are changing.  Commuter Cars noted some time ago that electric vehicles were considerably cheaper to run than internal combustion so long as you don’t need to make long-distance trips.  The recent run-up in oil prices has only made this more true.  Further, concentrator-Stirling solar powerplants appear likely to hit the market soon at $2/watt or less than 10¢/kWh.  (Gasoline at $2.699/gallon is over 40¢/kWh at the wheels.)  What we need is a policy push to get this stuff out there, get the economies of scale in production, and shove petroleum to the same status for transport energy that tallow candles now hold for lighting.

(No preview?  Hope my HTML isn’t mangled… no way to check.)

]]> By: jimbo http://donklephant.com/2005/08/22/dems-take-on-gas-woes/#comment-1552 jimbo Tue, 23 Aug 2005 08:44:39 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=644#comment-1552 For goodness sakes! How, How are we ever going to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East and reduce CO2 emissions without making petroleum more expensive? Look, if we hold gasoline prices, people will continue to buy SUVs because they are perceived to be safer and more comfortable. If we force improved mileage upon them, people will drive more miles because they like freedom and mobility. Alternative energy sources are mostly too expensive relative to petroleum, and are viable only with public subsidies. Alternative energy sources are not going to break out unless the cost of petroleum rises and stays high relative to alternatives. It is that simple. Why can't our policy makers get it. For goodness sakes! How, How are we ever going to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East and reduce CO2 emissions without making petroleum more expensive? Look, if we hold gasoline prices, people will continue to buy SUVs because they are perceived to be safer and more comfortable. If we force improved mileage upon them, people will drive more miles because they like freedom and mobility. Alternative energy sources are mostly too expensive relative to petroleum, and are viable only with public subsidies. Alternative energy sources are not going to break out unless the cost of petroleum rises and stays high relative to alternatives. It is that simple. Why can’t our policy makers get it.

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