Rising gas prices could ruin our future. The price of gas has more than doubled since 1970, and there is seemingly no end in sight. In 1970 the average price of a gallon of gasoline was $1.50. As recently as November of 2006 the price was $2.21 per gallon (“Current” 1). There are numerous factors which have historically affected the price of gasoline. Wars often cause significant spikes in fuel prices. The control of OPEC, and other influences have over the supply and demand of crude oil also contributed greatly to the cost of gas. We are facing a serious problem with the continuing escalation of gas prices, and the United States needs to find a solution to this problem in order to ensure its' future prosperity. A couple of possible ways to help the situation are to find a more affordable alternate fuel, and to at the same time reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.
Gas is simply getting too expensive for regular consumers to afford. Low wage workers are having an especially tough time with the continually climbing prices. Over the span of one year, “Nationwide, the average residential customer's total gas heating costs for the winter months increased from $380 to $624” (“Natural” 1). Over the same period fuel prices have seen similar increases. These huge spikes in fuel prices cause extreme hardships for many consumers. New hybrid cars, getting as much as fifty miles per gallon, have been able to help consumers by making it less expensive to fill up the car. Automakers could potentially save consumers huge sums of money by developing new technologies and bringing them to the market. “Technologies developed by automakers could increase the fuel economy of the average car and truck to 40 mpg over the next 10 years, without relying on hybrids (“21st” 1). New fuel technology is one benefit to consumers during this uncertain time of high gas prices. If automakers actually put the time and money into it they could save consumers over forty billion with the new technology that could be invented (“21st” 1). All of this new technology needs to be funded, researched on and continually improved if we are to have any hope of ever keeping gas prices under control. How would you feel if you got a new car and could not afford to drive it because of out of control gas prices?
The U.S. needs to stop depending so greatly upon foreign oil companies to supply crude oil for our needs. If the United States becomes more dependent on domestic research for ethanol fuel it can help reduce the cost of fuel. Making it in the U.S. will also increase the abundance of cheap fuel instead of importing crude oil from foreign companies. Having hybrid cars cheaper and more available to everyone could help lessen the dependency on foreign oil by using more alternative fuel. In turn, having hybrids will help promote the growth of ethanol or alternative fuel plants in the United States. “Hybrid cars are themselves the answer to revolutionize the fleet and trim the nation's surging dependence on foreign oil” (Clayton 1). New fuel technology is one benefit to consumers during this uncertain time of continually rising gas prices. People have been sucked into believing that gas prices have to go up so the companies can produce more fuel. “Taxpayers are being asked to provide huge subsidies to oil companies to produce oil - it's like subsidizing fish to swim” (Andrews 1). Telling the taxpayers that they need to pay so more oil can be produced is a complete lie. Oil companies do not need any extra money to manufacture oil (Andrews 1). What would you do if you found out that you were paying money to oil companies that they did not need and you do not owe?
A possible solution to the gas price problem is creating efficient domestic ethanol plants in America that do not run on oil. "We thought it made a lot of sense to use a renewable fuel to create a renewable fuel" (Norris 1). Doing so would make reliable fuel sources that the United States controls which would be cheaper than importing and would also be cheap and efficient to operate these plants. New fuel technology is one benefit to consumers during this uncertain time of high gas prices. “The new plant here in Texas will be run on manure and is expected to extract methane from 1 billion pounds (453,000 metric tons) of manure-the product of about 500,000 cows-to generate 100 million gallons (378 million liters) of ethanol, plus ash by-product, each year” (Norris 1). Having these plants in America can benefit in many ways. “Perhaps we should peruse back to basic economics. Supply and demand. As Adam Smith said, the price and quantity produced of a product should be set at the point where desired supply meets desired demand. At that point there is neither a surplus nor a shortage” (Neben 1). By being able to produce a great amount of alternative fuel because of these plants it could lower the demand which would lower the prices on fuel.
Gas prices are a serious threat and need an immediate solution. Cheap, clean, alternative fuel is a must to lower these prices and domestic fuel plants need to be constructed. Gas prices will always be a problem that is trying to be fixed. To put it simply, gas prices are like little kids that keep growing.
