Energy Saving Back In Style

Skyrocketing gas prices, Middle Eastern controversy, and plans to drill for oil in the Artic, have regenerated nationwide interest in finding new ways to make the United States less dependent on fossil fuels. In Florida where there were 14.5 million motor vehicles registered in 2003 making them the third largest energy consuming state, according to the Energy Information Administration. Floridians revere their environment and loathe the possibility of drilling along its coast. "We want it but we don't want to do anything to produce it" Sen. Trent Lott fumed over arguments about the drilling issue in the Artic. Where will the nation get new energy sources? Experts and Environmentalists want to start by requiring lighter and more efficient vehicles, and to develop nuclear power, electricity, geothermal, biomass corn and animal waste as an energy derivative. It is believed that the development of agricultural byproduct alone could provide as much as twenty-five percent of the nations energy needs by 2025. The Energy Future Coalition recommends boosting government grants to fund these efforts. These alternatives are inspired by the fear of oil running dry. President Bush hopes to push an energy bill through Congress that calls for the development of alternative energy sources while boosting oil production. The mean projected oil production in the Artic would peak at 876,000 barrels per

day in 2024. But by raising vehicle mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon would reduce oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day in 2012 and 3.4 million barrels per day in 2020 according to The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.