Is the high price of oil really good news?
Painful yes, but is the high price of oil going to save our economy and the world around us? There are many systems and technologies that allow us to heat our homes and power our cars but since the development of the internal combustion engine and indoor furnaces, the low cost of oil has tied us to these systems and slowed the adoption of others. Why pay more when oil is so cheap? This has led to global warming and pollution of the air around us and has left our country at the financial and political mercy of repressive regimes around the world.
There are many ways to use the sun, wind, and local products such as wood to power our homes and our cars. With oil approaching $4.00 a gallon and gas headed that way, there is a big increase in actual installation of alternate energy systems. The installation of a solar hot water or solar electric system immediately replaces the importation of oil with work for local people who build the systems and do the installations. This serves to support our local economy instead of sending our money to countries in the Middle East or South America.
The large SUV or 4 wheel drive truck with big V8 seems to be the vehicle of choice for many families throughout Maine and the US. Why drive a small car when gas is 99 cents a gallon? I have driven small cars for 30 years and wondered why others didn't but now there is finally the beginnings of a change to high mileage, hybrid, or electric cars. I still have a big 4WD Dodge truck but only put about 1000 miles on it last year and drove my 35+ mile per gallon Chevy (Thats right - a Chevy) or my wifes 35+ MPG Scion for the rest of our transportation needs. We got rid of a Ford van last year and now sometimes have to squeeze to get the family of 4 into our car with all our stuff but the payment on the smaller car is less than the gas we were putting into the old van and that was at less than $2.00 a gallon! We are also sending less oil money to the Middle East and putting fewer pollutants into the air.
I looked at and sat in an all electric car this weekend at an alternate energy show in Damariscotta and it was roomy and comfortable. It won't yet go far enough for my daily commute but would serve many people who live intown or closer to their job. I hope that the increasing cost of fuel will make sales of these cars take off. They keep our energy money in this country which supports local people.
It is always painful to pay more for anything but oil costs are not going to return to their former lows and it is time to stop exporting our money and jobs overseas. Reducing your use of oil through the many choices available saves money and supports our local economy.

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