The True Price of Oil
by Marc Ries
Date: 26 Aug 89 08:42:22 GMT
This month, the U.S. imported over 50% of it's oil from foreign sources.
The price we pay for this oil at the pump doesn't begin to reflect the
billions of dollars of our (YOURS and mine) taxpayer dollars spent on U.S.
military "presence" in foreign oil ports and related (destructive) societal
costs. That $17 barrel of Middle East oil currently is estimated to
actually cost us NO LESS than $49/barrel.
In 1986, the U.S. used 10% of its GNP to pay its fuel bill. Japan only
used 4% that year. The difference was $200,000 million. In 1988, in the
U.S., there was an 11% decrease in the ratio of GNP to energy use. We
imported 1.5 million barrels/day more oil than in 1983. We are back-
peddling.
One half of the electricity produced in America comes from coal, the major
contributor to Acid Rain, ozone and carbon dioxide problems. The burning
of fossil fuels is killing forests, streams, lakes, oceans. Acid Rain is
dissolving buildings, monuments and artwork, killing people and crops. We
are talking thousands of billions of dollars. And who is paying for it?
Obviously, it's not showing up in our utility or gas bills.
Imported oil costs the U.S. $30,500 million in lost jobs, every year!.
America already has the technology to build sophisticated and comfortable
homes that CAN be heated on the equivalent of a burning candle.
Unfortunately, too many self-centered people too busy seeking their "good
life" are willing to accept homes/cars/etc. that are energy "pigs", and so,
the majority of new homes/cars/etc. built in America don't take advantage
of these energy-efficient technologies.
Most people don't realize the POTENTIAL for energy savings. The U.S. could
save many millions of barrels of oil just by raising the CAFE only a single
MPG. Similar examples abound. The question isn't what can we do to help,
but why aren't we do something.
When Reagan became President, that U.S. government you are referring to
spent about $270 million dollars that year researching renewable energy
technologies (PV, Solar Thermal, Solar Building). Last year, that same
government spent only about $45 million. Exxon spent has spent almost as
much money cleaning up the the Alaskan oil spill (currently about $1.3
billion) then the U.S. has spent IN TOTAL (about $2 billion) on these same
renewable energy technologies.
1983 was the last year that the U.S. had a National Energy Policy. Last
year, a Gallop Poll indicated that 54% of Americans favored development of
solar energy over any other technology to meet our future needs. Only 12
percent favored nuclear power priority. Nuclear waste disposal and Nuclear
DECOMMISSIONING is costing the U.S. $31 000 million per year. Yet U.S.
funding for nuclear R&D is nearly seven times more than all other renewable
energy technologies combined. IF the U.S. took advantage of the best
"buys" in energy-efficient technology between now and the year 2000, we
could save enough money to pay off the National Debt (several trillion
dollars). Don't hold your breath.
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