ALTERNATIVE TO GASOLINE NEEDED (5-2004)

Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us, and with it will 
come the start of the summer driving season. As any 
motorist knows, however, the record high gasoline prices 
will put a crimp in their wallets this summer.

There is little that drivers can do about it but pay up. 
But, perhaps, the soaring price of gas has started some 
consumers thinking about at least making a show of their 
displeasure.

There were rumblings about a nationwide boycott of gas 
stations. It was supposed to have taken place last 
Wednesday, but it fizzled. The problem is that everybody 
needs gasoline to get to work. And there was a lack of any 
real organization of a boycott; it was mostly Internet 
rumors.

But as the price of gas continues to rise through the 
summer, the time may be ripe for consumers to take a stand. 
A one-day boycott of gas stations will have little effect 
on supply and demand. If drivers don’t buy it one day, 
they’ll have to buy it the next.

But a boycott would at least let consumers voice their 
extreme displeasure over the high price of driving. It 
might at least making them feel better, if only 
temporarily. Even a 12-hour boycott, from six in the 
morning until six at night, would send a strong message.

Unfortunately, the high gasoline prices are mainly due to 
rising crude oil prices. And that’s something consumers can 
do little about. Until the oil cartels begin increasing 
production quotas, crude oil prices will likely remain 
high.

A year ago, the average price of gasoline was $1.45 per 
gallon. And it wasn’t that long ago when regular unleaded 
was selling for less than a dollar a gallon. But last week, 
the price of a gallon of gas at some local gas stations hit 
a record high of $2.14. 

People are still going to take their vacations. The AAA 
Hoosier Motor Club still projects a record number of 
Americans, 30.9 million, will hit the roads for the 
Memorial Day holiday. That means demand for gasoline will 
not go down soon, and so neither will its price. 

High fuel prices affect a lot more than how much we pay at 
the gas station. Consumer goods are all transported via 
truck, train, or air. And as transportation costs rise, so 
will the price of everything that is being transported. 
High gasoline prices could even adversely affect the 
economic recovery by increasing the rate of inflation.

It doesn’t help that the number of gas-guzzling SUVs has 
increased tremendously over the last few years. But, in 
response to the increasing gas prices, some car makers are 
introducing smaller SUVs and hybrid models that use far 
less gasoline.

Eventually, that’s the kind of change that will need to 
take place on a global scale, and especially in the U.S. 
Hybrid cars and SUVs, which run on a combination of 
gasoline and electricity from a battery, will have to 
become the norm rather than the exception. 

Other alternatives to fossil fuels will also need to be 
developed. Hydrogen fuel cells hold great promise, but are 
not yet feasible for mass market applications.

One thing is certain; crude oil production will not last 
forever. Eventually, if we are to maintain our quality of 
life, we will be forced to come up with alternative energy 
sources. And we shouldn’t wait until the oil supply is 
almost gone before we start.