Contents of RauwLetter May 2010
- "Drill Baby Drill" - A Disaster Waiting to Happen ...
- Cash for Clunkers - A Success Story?
- Cozy Up to Your Neighbors
- Quick Tips for Motor Vehicle Fuel Economy
- Burning Less for Better Air Quality
- Subscribe to Our Newsletter
"Drill Baby Drill" - A Disaster Waiting to Happen ...
The current BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has catapulted the dangers of drilling for oil into the world’s consciousness. Not only have eleven people lost their lives, the devastation to ecosystems, wildlife and the fishing industry is horrendously momentous and will persist well into the future. Dr. Gina Solomon, MD, MPH at the Natural Resources Defense Council commented, “Apart from the economic disaster to the industry, this spill poses a long-term health concern for the safety of the fish and shellfish. Contaminants in oil persist for years and accumulate in the food chain, causing elevated cancer risks or neurological risks from exposure to heavy metals such as mercury.”
This disaster has put an exclamation mark on the need to replace our current oil infrastructure with renewable energy. It has also magnified the need for every individual to use less oil and by that I mean drive less, drive smart or better yet, don’t drive at all.
Transportation is the largest oil-using sector in our economy. According to the Energy Information Administration, petroleum accounts for 37.1% of our nation’s total energy consumption. Transportation accounts for 27.8% of our total economy’s energy use and petroleum is the fuel for 95% of our fleet of cars, trucks and light commercial vehicles. Transportation consumes 71% of the total petroleum available in the United States of America.
In other words, driving our cars and trucks is why we as a nation need to drill for and import oil. It’s the reason we’re experiencing the devastation in the Gulf, not to mention the issues surrounding national security. The oil sector of our economy is fed by Americans’ love of the open road and the need to experience that road in our oversized, fuel inefficient vehicles.
There’s a car I’ve always wanted – a Jeep Wrangler in fire engine red. To me this car speaks young (wishful thinking), fun, outdoors, taking control and an easy spirit. To the environment it means 15 city/19 highway. I can’t do it. I can’t buy the car of my dreams (okay, pretty low hanging fruit but I’m not a car snob). Increased CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards would help me out tremendously but until mandated standards are passed in a laboriously slow governmental process, and/or American consumers increase their demand for better fuel efficiencies, that Jeep Wrangler will have to wait. Meanwhile, I’ll drive less, walk more and take public transportation when feasible.
