Gas Prices = $2.34?

[Joe_Black]

Have you heard that the price of gas in the U.S. is cheap compared to the International rate of $5 to $6 a gallon?

Have you heard that the U.S. government is considering emposing a $2 to $3 per gallon tax on the gas we buy? This is an effort to raise our awareness of our dependancies on oil, generate revenue for improving mass transit, and to get us to drive less, which will improve our air quality.

I find it hard to believe our government wants to do this, but personally would like to see gasoline nail $6 a gallon and do nothing but go up from there. The general American populace will never change a bad habit until forced to do so, and the recent increase in fuel consumption in spite of price hikes just proves it. Ramping up fuel prices to that level would be a significant wake-up call that something better has been around under our noses for a long time.

[kobie]

$2.17 today in baytown, TX

[kpaske]

I find it hard to believe our government wants to do this, but personally would like to see gasoline nail $6 a gallon and do nothing but go up from there. The general American populace will never change a bad habit until forced to do so, and the recent increase in fuel consumption in spite of price hikes just proves it. Ramping up fuel prices to that level would be a significant wake-up call that something better has been around under our noses for a long time.

Don't you really wish that the American public would experience the wake up call WITHOUT having to artificially inflate fuel prices? And just what do you think the gub'ment is going to do with all that extra money? Put it into "alternative fuel research"? Yeah, with a loophole that classifies oil drilling in the Gulf and Alaska as "alternative fuels".

But frankly this won't ever happen as long as the oil cronies maintain control of the White House. They don't want people to stop using oil. Period. That's why G.W. likes to push Ethanol - the blends still require lots and lots of dirty, bloody oil.

[JHarris1385]

I am all for drilling in Alaska.

[kpaske]

I am all for drilling in Alaska.

It's better than relying on unstable foreign governments to supply a big chunk of our energy needs, but the long term solution is to adopt renewable resources and get off fossil fuels forever.

[Joe_Black]

Well, BMW announced today that they'll be producing a hydrogen-powered 7-series in limited numbers with their goal of eventually being 100% hydrogen across the line. Should be interesting to watch a distribution network and an economy develop around the most plentiful thing in the universe.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I am all for drilling in Alaska.

Trouble is...and somebody please correct me if I got this wrong...we already have oil in Alaska that we use something to the effect of 2% for ourselves and sell the rest to Japan and I believe possibly Germany too for a profit; while we buy a great portion from the middle-east for ourselves for a lesser amount. IF I got this right...it is the greed of our country that makes us dependent on foreign oil. "Buy for less and sell for more."

Well, BMW announced today that they'll be producing a hydrogen-powered 7-series in limited numbers with their goal of eventually being 100% hydrogen across the line. Should be interesting to watch a distribution network and an economy develop around the most plentiful thing in the universe.

As much as I would like to see us switch to a hydrogen economy....the program I watched on the history channel stated that in order to speed up the process of establishing the infrastructure and utilizing the refineries we already have...hydrogen could be produced using fossil fuels.

which means BP, EXXON, Chevron, etc...still would own our collective a$$e$.

[Joe_Black]

As much as I would like to see us switch to a hydrogen economy....the program I watched on the history channel stated that in order to speed up the process of establishing the infrastructure and utilizing the refineries we already have...hydrogen could be produced using fossil fuels.

which means BP, EXXON, Chevron, etc...still would own our collective a$$e$.

Yup, that's one of hydrogen's dark secrets most of the greeny public doesn't realize.

[tbigity]

Kobie, I hate you. We hit a new low today in T-Town...$2.23. You still beat me.

[JAFO]

Ok, so it is 2006 and we now know that the Hindenburg disaster was caused by a build up of electricity in the fabric panels. And it was solely the flammability of the panels that cause the Hindenburg to ketch on fire.
http://www.brianlynchmd.com/HINDENBURG/hindenburg2.htm

Hydrogen is lighter than air. Hydrogen will accumulate if trapped under something. For example "This New Car" podcast says that if your garage ceiling accumulates as little as 3% hydrogen, then if it gets ignited by a spark, there would be enough energy to completely destroy the house and everyone inside.
http://www.wicn.org/programs/thisnewcar.htm
Available at the iTunes Music Store for free.

"While some are concerned about hydrogen's explosiveness, Jacobson said another property of hydrogen?its lightness?may lessen this danger. He cited an example of two cars?one conventional, one hydrogen-powered?that were hit from behind. The car powered by an internal combustion engine became engulfed in flames when its gas tank was punctured. But when the hydrogen car's fuel cell was punctured, since hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air, the flames just shot straight up. The car was saved."
http://news-service.stanford.edu/new...en-071305.html

I'm curious since hydrogen is lighter than air, if the hydrogen tank is in a sealed trunk which has weather stripping and seals to keep rain out, like a typical family car. If the tank leaks before it is caught on fire? Wouldn't the hydrogen accumulate in the truck, slowly leak out into the passenger compartment through the gaps between the seats?

Second, what would the risk be, as pertains to terrorism, if we had a hydrogen refueling and storage facility on every city corner, as we now have gas stations?

I'm generally curious I have not heard these topics discussed.

[JAFO]

Kobie, I hate you. We hit a new low today in T-Town...$2.23. You still beat me.

The cheapest price here in McMinnville, OR is $2.89.9 for regular. That's only 66 cents more per gallon.