The train we're sitting on is going to crash. Everybody knows it. Still, we're all sitting calmly in our seats, looking out at the countryside, chatting with our friends. A few people get indignant and take out their cellphones and call their Senators to complain. Actually they didn't have to use a phone, because their Senators are also on the train, probably somewhere up in First Class. Rumor has it that the President is on the train, in a padded compartment, somewhere in the back. Actually, I hope he's not back here, because I bought my Prius ticket a few months ago, just to sit in the back. Supposedly it's safer. I feel kind of sorry for those people with the SUV tickets at the front - they're going to get the worst of the crash, but you can't say they weren't warned. We were all warned.
So, is anybody going to do anything? Anybody? Somebody?
I'm not an energy expert, but I can see a few things we can do, and must do, to at least slow down the train. This is just a start - I'm sure there are many other ideas out there.
- Require (in incremental steps over time) fuel economy standards for passenger cars to get an average of 40 miles per gallon. For SUVs and trucks it should be at least 25 mpg. I KNOW this can be done. It is already being done by some auto manufacturers.
- Give major tax incentives for developing and using alternative energy sources - solar, wind, geothermal. Give rebates to builders who install solar and other renewable systems.
- Charge a penalty tax to households that use above a certain metered amount of electricity. Use that money for developing renewable energy sources.