May 2008 has proved to be the most expensive month so far. Gas prices are at a record high with $4 per gallon, and consumers are left helpless as they see their hard-earned money being sucked away at the gas pump. This sudden spike in gas prices generates a great deal of questions about the future of gasoline.
Experts estimate that there are still nearly one trillion barrels-worth of gasoline located in the Earth's crust of the earth; however, two-thirds of that is located in the Middle East, where the United States just so happens to be fighting a war. Many people still believe that there is more than enough oil located in the United States and other places around the world. There is still a great deal of oil located in the United States and friendly countries but this oil is becoming much less efficient.
For decades, oil pumps have been extracted oil from large pools located in the Earth's crust. The surface oil of these pools is what has been fueling our country for many years; however, the oil located deeper in these pools is not the same as the surface oil we have been using. This oil is much more difficult to extract from the crust, and refining this oil into usable gasoline is a much more expensive process and requires much more energy.
To put it into simpler terms, in order to extract and refine one barrel of oil into usable gasoline it may take three-fourths of a barrel of gasoline. If it takes three-fourths of a barrel of oil to produce one barrel of gasoline then the net production of gasoline is almost nothing at all.
Even though there are still a trillion barrels of oil in the Earth's crust, the overall production of it is dwindling even more. In the past, in order to reduce the cost of gasoline, oil companies would literally open the valves of refineries so more gasoline would be available, and the price could go down. This is no longer possible because extraction and oil refinement is not as easy.
For this reason, gas prices will continue to increase. Although short time prices of gasoline will fluctuate depending on the season or economic stability, prices will continue to increase.
There is no denying that the United States is heavily addicted to and dependent on oil. The level of this addiction will be signified by how much the consumer will be willing to pay. At what price will consumers say enough is enough? Will it be as high as $6 or $7 per gallon? The United States' addiction will eventually come to an end because it is not a matter of IF gasoline will cease to exist or be too expensive to afford; it is a matter of WHEN. Consumers are already beginning to feel the effects of this inevitability.
The U.S. government has invested a great deal of time and money to create alternative sources of energy. The two major sources are ethanol and "clean-burning coal." The idea of clean-burning fuel is absolutely ridiculous. There is no such thing, and the government wants people to believe it. Also, ethanol which is supposedly a clean-burning source of energy, is also a ridiculous idea. The production and transportation of one gallon of ethanol takes more than one gallon of gasoline. It would be cheaper and better for the environment to just use gasoline.
The two "escapes" for the United States' dependency on oil are failures. The only way for the U.S. to reduce its dependency and save hard-earned money is to take action. The easiest way to do this is by reducing our use of automobiles. By walking, biking or carpooling U.S. citizens can help the environment and save some money.
It seems like a very big problem, but it all starts with a small change.
Write to Patrick atptrck.dull@gmail.com
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