Can Michigan Abandon Fossil Fuels?

Originally submitted by: barcode 2x

The four-day workweek, green commutes and other noble efforts are afoot to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Al Gore has said today that he believes our country could abandon fossil fuels by 2018. The US is one of the top producers of greenhouse gases. His argument has multiple dimensions beyond global warming. As oceans rise, this could create hundreds of millions of "climate refugees". Coastal and island communities may be forced to leave their homes if and when their location becomes too risky. Michigan may become a good option for people in the coming years. The access to water and the colder climate may be a very attractive option as utility costs continue to rise. The highways may slow down to conserve fuels. Big trucks will be more and more rare. The four-day workweek will take many more vehicles off the road. But is this solution only prolonging our dependence on oil, even while it redcuces our costs in the short term? Is it like McCain's proposed reduction in the gas tax, that may save money but still does not fix our root problem of oil addiction? Is Michigan's government still beig shortsighted? With the auto industry in such trouble, this will naturally go hand in hand with a reduction in fuel. The big Ford F150 surplus means you can now buy a truck for as little as $11,000. Another concern is over the viability of alternative fuels in Michigan. Solar power is less effective in states that spend most of the year under cloud cover. And the number of trees is actually a problem in this case: a solar panel can be up to 85% less effective if it spends too much of the day out of direct sunlight. The truth is that we need long-term and short-term solutions. We can no longer afford to drive so much. Solar and wind power is becoming more and more affordable for regular consumers. Companies now lease the panels and turbines, so that your electric bill could wind up staying the same if you converted over to the alternatives. Your initial costs of installing solar panels on your roof could be vastly reduced. Geothermal heating and cooling is also becoming more accessible. The environment and the economy are riding together in tandem. More and more, we are seeing the economic benefits of taking care of the environment. This administration has essentially lost us 8 good years when we could have been making huge advancements. Consumer trends will have to fill in where the government could not. If the government has protected big oil, then as consumers we may now have more options for taking matters into our own hands. REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION, CARE FOR THE EARTH and SAVE MONEY: 1. Walk to work or ride a bus. 2. Save electricity by hanging clothes on a clothesline. 3. Try growing and exchanging produce with neighbors. 4. Unplug your appliances when they are not in use. 5. Buy used clothing, DVDs, housewares, etc, instead of buying them new. 6. Create a compost heap. Recycle paper, plastic, and metal waste. Reduce the amount of garbage you put out on the street by half. Put out your dumpster bin only once a month. 7. Share resources and reduce your household's consumption. 8. Buy local and support locally owned businesses. Local goods have traveled smaller distances by truck to get to you. 9. Turn off your TV. 10. Don't pave your driveway. Hot black pavement heats the air and causes global warming. Use gravel or dirt.