While sitting in an Irish-inspired Pub located on beach side, I overheard talk of politics and gas prices. Now given, I doubt any of these voices were a real economist's view, but the words really grabbed my attention. An English man discussed his ideals on our government compared to his home country. Then an interesting point came up..."Maybe if we weren't funding a war, we could have been investing money into affordable alternative energy and our "transportation and energy crisis" wouldn't be such a crisis."
So I decided I would do a little research...
In July 2007 Costofwar.com, a project maintained by the National Priorities Project, produced a running counter of the total amount of money spent in the war in Iraq. It was said that the war in Iraq costs $445,817,285,000. Now let's put that into perspective, shall we?
"Instead of invading Iraq, 7,726,076 public school teachers could have been hired for a year. Or, 266,956,850 children could have had health insurance for a year. Back to education, 21,612,280 students could have been provided with four-year college scholarships." - socyberty.com
OR a national fuel system could be in production and well on its way to stabilize our nation's distress with fuel costs and availability.
As central Florida gas stations switch to E-10, a 10% ethanol blend, the state will soon accommodate the first U.S. ethanol pipeline - running from Tampa to Orlando and owned by Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMP) in Houston.
With Florida Gov. Charlie Crist poised to sign an energy bill soon requiring 10% ethanol in gasoline by 2010, central Florida vendors are already in compliance and way ahead of that plan, having phased out regular gasoline this May. So far, ethanol isn't produced in Florida, but Midwest corn-derived fuel enters by boat from the Gulf Coast and also by train, while Caribbean and Central American ethanol arrives on vessels. It is said that such a pipeline will reduce truck traffic on highways.
Florida agriculture officials want to promote local biofuel production, with cellulosic technology that can make ethanol from wood chips, switch grass and sorghum.
It is in our best interest to preemptively embark on a revolutionary change that will lead us away from oil dependency rather than suffer by becoming growingly dependent on a diminishing resource. More fuel choices leave less dependence on foreign oil.
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