Energy Policy?

Fred Harwood_2

Back in 1962, when I drove from home leave to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, I paid some 35 cents a gallon for gasoline and my car got almost 18 miles to the gallon. According to those who monitor the value of our dollar, prices have risen about 6.7 times since then.
Since the beginning of this year, my gasoline cost has averaged $3.24 a gallon. (I keep a spreadsheet on car costs.) My 2004 Forester gets 28.6 miles per gallon and is a far better and more reliable car than my 1958 Pontiac was, rust and all.
The above figures reveal that after allowing for dollar rust, in 1962 I paid a bit more than 13 cents for gasoline per mile run. So far this year, I have paid 11.4 cents per mile run.
And to make the miles even sweeter, today the same woman rides beside me as in 1962. Next month we celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary.

troy_8

Energy Policy?

We keep hearing these buzzz words and phrases. What does an energy policy mean to you? What should it look like? Does it mean you subsidize new technologies? Tax imported fuel? Open up our resources? Or regulate their usage? Rationing? I hear this term being blamed for fuel shortages, price increases and even war. I need to be educated.

ALH_4

That's a huge topic

In the US, our energy policy amounts to two freight trains speeding toward a head-on collision. Our representatives in government fight tooth and nail about whether to provide any subsidies to alternative energy production, and, when they do act, they demonstrate their extreme lack of understanding of energy production, consumption, storage, and transportation. What worries me the most is that if we leave it to the free market to drive people to alternative energy production or even *gasp* conservation, we will have to reach a crisis level before most people start investigating what to do. In my opinion, that's too late. The other problem with high energy prices is that they will eliminate the middle class. The wealthy will be able to afford energy, probably even turning our food into fuel, but the average person will be struggling to buy those same items. The problem is so fundamental that it cuts to the core of the American way of life, which I love, but it is not sustainable as it is right now.

nicholas bonham-carter

energy policy?? what a joke!!

what sort of transpotation energy policy would put a higher tax on the most heat efficient fuel [diesel] and provide money for research into hydrogen which will take a long time to make into a practical fuel no matter how much money is spent on it ?--nbc

ALH_4

Diesel

At least we are supposed to see a ~100mpg Volkswagen hybrid diesel for 2009. Funny how we tighten diesel restrictions at exactly the time we could use 50-100mpg diesel cars. Of course diesel trucks that get similar mileage to gasoline engines are exempted. When I bought my last car, I tried to find a used diesel Jetta. But after searching for weeks and finding that the demand had driven up the price for used diesel cars if I could have even found one within 200 miles, I gave up and bought a car with a gasoline engine.

Rich Kontny_8

Energy Policy

Our energy policy is the same as our healthcare policy big money and special interests have a great deal to do with the inflated price of both. Without getting too political our current administration and almost a decade of conservative (hands off the rich) have brought us to " market determines the price". No controls, little mandated conservation and strategies that have indeed worked for some but have created a huge gap between those who have and those who have not.

An embarassment at best and sorely in need of repair!

Rich K.

Some love this status quo as it has worked for them.They are closing 7 Home Depots in Wisconsin (not really bad news as they and other DIY box stores have overbuilt/the market. Kohls has put all expansion plans on hold. Starbucks is also doing the same stateside with only expansion plans overseas. The newly opened Walmart (in Hartford,WI) opened in early March and recently announced layooffs of approx. 70.

Major snafus(in sports they would fire the managers or coaches for such poor preformance) We have to wait until November to give notice to the nation's manager and several more months to ask him to kindly leave!

wopotoket

What ever happenned to the American Way? A free "market economy" and capitalism.

It made this country what it is today. Let's not tear it down yet. Bad as it is, it's a lot better than anywhere else.

That's a fact! Everyone's still trying to get in; unfortunately, they still are - but illegally!

Andrew Hagen_2

Free Markets

Markets are reactive, and therefore the market will respond too late. In this case, we need to be proactive to avoid a major crisis. There never has been a free market. If we stop subsidizing oil, we will have a level playing field for alternative energy to compete.

Rollie Peck_3

Energy policy

Hi Rich:

Your entry gives me the impression that you are a fellow Wisconsinite. If so, what city/town do you live in? Are you a contractor or a homeowner?

Rollie Peck

Homeowner, Madison, Wisconsin

nicholas bonham-carter

now here is a race for you!!

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=us-en&FC2=/us-en/html/iwgen/leftnavs/zzz_lhn7_4_0.html&FC3=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2008/sem2008_results_041208.html

i don't believe any one of these teams have had any enormous government subsidies but look what they have done both here and [of course ]in europe. just making it "cool" to go so far on 1 liter is a great psychological boost for the rest of us--nbc

Maine Ken

Andrew, Would you also stop subsidizing the alternative fuels?

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Andrew Hagen_2

Yes

What I am saying is that their subsidies or lack of subsidies should be equal. That's the only way the free market idea works. We can't subsidize solar energy, get rid of the subsidies for oil, and then tell oil it has to compete in a free market.

FATBOY040575

is this a fair comparison? something that had a (V8) AND was a lot heavier to a 4 banger that weighs less then 1/2 that of you old pontiac. and it looks like your math may be off on the 1962 figures, .35/gal~18m/gal=.0194444/gal
But Congrats on the 45 years!

Fred Harwood_2

Energy Policy

Thanks, Jeff.

My comparison was in cost per mile after accounting for dollar rust, not cost per gallon.

As for the comparison between cars, there are many differences, including that my Forester has A/C, but not my old Pontiac.

Rich Kontny_3

Tranparency

troy_8

Less power and control

If I'm not mistaken one party has controlled congress and the other major party is in the Executive branch. If you don't think we have been served well by our government why give them more power? More of our money = more power. That is why they spend 100s of millions to get a job that pays 250k. They want power. You don't give an addict more of their drug with the hope that they will control the addiction. I'm not anti government I just think if you don't control an Irresponsible employee you better not be surprised when the company folds.

Rich Kontny_8

I am a veteran..

Of the pipe wars for 39 years and yes I am from Wisconsin, north of Oconomowoc (about 10 miles) I am not a liberal but I am proud to be a true moderate.

I am the son of a plumber, the brother of two master plumbers(one is a mechanical in Florida) one brother is a sheet metal mechanic (mechanical contractor in Ashland WI.) and my sister married a general contractor.

I used to travel alot and have had
master licenses in Wisconsin,Minnesota,Michigan and Georgia. I currently work the Milwaukee, WI.market and I am the dept.head for a medium sized mechanical contractor from West Bend.

Pacing myself now after years of fast paced construction projects. I also am a member of Plumbers Local 75.

Where in the Badger State to you hail from?

Rich Kontny_8

Should be Proud!

I got 27 with my Jean Marie and I would not think of trading her in!

Rollie Peck_3

Wisconsinites

Hi Rich:

I was born in Marshall, Wisconsin, about 20 miles east of Madison. Spent four years in the Navy right after high school, 23 years servicing IBM data processing (punched card) equipment and computers, 8 years as their building supervisor doing minor electrical, plumbing, heating, telephone and computer work, and was downsized out in 1990. Have since worked part time servicing mail opening equipment and doing handyman jobs.

Moved to Madison after the Navy stint.

Did a major upgrade to my hydronic heating system several years ago with the co-operation of a great local hydronics heating contractor. He provided consultation, the Viessman boiler, buffer tank, pumps, Viessman 4-way valve with controller, LWCO, startup checks, etc. I did the wiring and the piping.

The Wall was a big help, also.

Rollie Peck

Homeowner