How to Solve Our Dependence on Foreign Energy

Even with gas and oil prices dipping over the last six months, we have to keep in mind that unless we do something drastic this is only temporary. When the economy comes back online, expect the return of four dollar gas. Oil could again reach near $150 and a prolonged economic growth period could push gas near six dollars.

In order to attempt to reverse this potential future, the government and our business leaders need to make the decision that we should be less dependent on foreign energy. Everyone states how they'd like to do this, but it's imperative that we act boldly, especially while our enemies like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela have smarting economies.

So here's my plan. If you don't like it or feels that it doesn't go far enough, feel free to comment. If you think it's a good idea, email it to people you know to begin a chain that could end with Congressmen and Senators. It's time to act, and I think that it's about time.

What We Need to Do:

1. Relax restrictions on drilling for most domestic areas-- basically anywhere that won't really damage the environment. Make oil companies pay 25 cents on the dollar of profits from this new land opened in reinvestment, the "greening" of their facilities and automobiles, and the expansion of alternative energy.

2. Have the Congress invest $50 billion over the next 5-10 years in ethanol production in Brazil. Sugarcane in Brazil produces much more ethanol cheaper than corn, and avoids the fuel/food scenario. Have these fields owned by our government, with the ethanol being sent to the US tariff and tax free.

3. Create wind, solar, and geothermal energy on federal land, including solar panels on federal buildings. Phase out gasoline and diesel cars from federal and state vehicles, and phase in CNG, biodiesel, and ethanol cars.

4. Provide $50 billion over 10 years for the construction of ten synthetic coal-to-oil plants.

5. Eliminate most or all taxes on Compressed Natural Gas, and push for more drilling.

6. Mandate that all newly built homes and businesses be constructed with either solar panels or a small wind turbine OR have the owners pay a waiver to the federal government.

7. Allow the construction of more refineries and nuclear plants.

This plan is definitely expensive, but if carried out, could save us the amount it costs overall in just one year. This could be our ticket out of ALL energy entanglements with other countries (except Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.) Make this message count, send it to those who want to make a difference!

Also, if you need to search anything on Google, please use the bar below:

Alaska Taking the Lead on Alternative Energy

Alaska, run by Governor Sarah Palin, has announced an ambitious new goal: 50% of Alaska's energy being renewable by 2025. Now there are not many people up in the Arctic Circle, but it's twice as ambitious as President Obama's:

That's from the governor who can't wait to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and who sunk $500 million into a yet-to-be built gas pipeline. But now, she said, she would move to wean the state's far-flung villages from diesel oil to wind and geothermal and make the state's six utilities cease their in-fighting to more efficiently serve populated areas.

Palin's 50% goal one-ups California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who touts himself as the nation's green governor: Two months ago, he signed an executive order requiring 33% of Golden State electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. President-elect Barack Obama, whose home state of Illinois is a major coal producer, has called for 25% renewable energy use nationwide by 2025.

Good for Sarah Palin and good for Alaska.

Coffee Replacing Gasoline?

There's a neat little article up stating that coffee grounds could be processed into biodiesel. This invention could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, one cup at a time:

That's the idea behind a new study that turned used coffee grounds into biodiesel fuel. Coffee will probably never replace petroleum, but discarded cappuccino scraps might someday help reduce our impact on the environment, say the study's authors. They imagine a day when the byproducts of your latte end up in the gas tank of your car -- with hardly any waste left behind.

"It's a very simple two-step process," said Susanta Mohapatra, a chemical engineer at the University of Nevada, Reno. "We can definitely make a big impact on our environment with fuel made out of nature."

Cool.

Albania to Host Europe's Biggest Windfarm

Yes, yes, we all know how awesome Albania is. However, we have another bulletin. Albania will host the largest windfarm in all of Europe. This windmilltastic farm will supply power for and will be constructed by Italy. The farm will consist of 250 turbines, over 50 more than at Tug Hill.

The Albanian government has transferred more than 97 hectares of land to Italy’s Moncada Energy Group, which through its Albanian subsidiary, Enpower Albania, aims to build a 500 megawatt wind farm, comprising 250 turbines, in the south of the country. The biggest wind farm in Europe. The project will include the construction of a transmission line running from the port of Vlora in Albania to the Italian port of Brindisi. A cable, stretching 145km under the Adriatic at a depth of over 900 metres, will allow electricity to be transmitted in either direction. Construction is expected to start in 2010.

Good for Albania. They're joining NATO and are still cool. How can they get any cooler?