Gas Prices Worry Americans More Than Terrorism or Economy
Why do I read stuff like this? It’s just depresssing to read these statistics.
This article, from the Pipeline & Gas Journal, highlights the need for better fuel efficiency standards and the entire Peak Oil discussion. If Americans are this concerned about gas prices while being this unaware of alternatives, then it must be from an intuitive sense of how economically vulnerable they are to fuel costs, which will only continue to rise.
Gas Prices Worry Americans More Than Terrorism, Economy, Study Shows
With fuel averaging $3 per gallon nationawide, more American consumers declare themselves (highly) concerned about high gas prices (83%) than about terrorism (62%) or the economy as a whole (69%). These are findings from the inaugural National Analysts Worldwide “Foods, Fats and Fuels” study completed in March that surveyed a nationally representative sample of 502 comsumers via the web.
Consumers are eyeing alternative energy sources sich as biofuels favourably. Of those familiar with biofuels, 72% view them as a good way to reduce American’s dependence on foreigh oil and generate renewable energy supplies. Yet the study finds little understanding about biofuels with 36% of consumers saying they had never heard of biofuels. Only 52% are convinced that biofuels produce less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels and 65% are unsure whether biofuels require more energy to make than they contain.
While 59% of consumers are “very concerned” about the environment, 40% of those familiar with biofuels say their decision to buy is contingent on a price lower than gasoline; only 12% are willing to pay any sort of premium.
Reprinted from Pipeline & Gas Journal, August 2007
There’s a product out there that will go a long way in helping with some of these problems. It’s called CA-40, and it increases mileage and decreases emissions. Seriously. It’s not a miracle wonder additive, but it does work–I got 12% better mileage in one car and 9% in another. There’s no way a “placebo effect ” will get results like that. According to the web site (www.ca40g.com), Nitrogen oxide emissions are cut in half. The explanation of how CA-40 works, etc. is also on there.
Without any real public transit what do you expect. This problem is not fixed by simply adding a few bus routes. Building cites for transit is not hard, but never was part of the American dream, so …..