We Really Need to Get Off of Foreign Oil

Ok now I am fuming mad about foreign oil and now I am really pumped and excited to do whatever I can to help America get off of it completely or at minimum reduce our need by at least 50% by the year 2012.

So what happened between today and yesterday that now makes me feel this way? I was watching a replay of a 60 minutes interview one of the reporters did with a leader from Saudi Arabia. Now I have nothing against Saudi Arabia or their people, but what made me mad is when the leader said it costs them less than $2.00 to produce a barrel of oil.

Are you kidding me? $2.00 for a barrel and we were paying (some of us) over $4.00 a gallon for our gas?!?! I am all about free markets and capitalism for the world, but good Lord can you be a little more discrete about making billions of dollars?

Obviously part of my plan is to continue to do research and learn which ways oil is used in our daily lives above and beyond what gets put into our vehicles. Whatever I learn I want to pass on to the masses through my writings so we can all make minor changes in our lives that will help reduce our consumption.

There is no question that because America is a consuming society that we are our own worse enemy when it comes to oil. But by the same token we can also be our best ally because we alone do have the power to reduce our need.

I have heard a lot of encouraging news about the subject. For starters in my own home town, the local municipality has switched their buses from oil gasoline and diesel fuel to biodiesel made from used vegetable oil from the local restaurants. Since the oil is being donated to the local municipalities the cost for the fuel is estimated to save us around $30,000 per year. Beyond the monetary savings, we are also recycling oil that would normally just get thrown in a dump and we are not buying gasoline made from foreign oil.

I also read that America is producing and using more ethanol then ever before. Because of this increased use it has lead to wonderful discoveries which down the road will help in limiting the burden ethanol may have on the corn supply. Such advancements are making ethanol from grass clippings, leaves, garbage and much much more.

Hopefully together we can reduce our need for foreign oil altogether. It will take a lot work, a dedicated society and a great plan, but I know we can get there!