[Thermodyne]

OK, so where are we? Alcohol cost too much and dumps more carbon into the air per unit of energy than just burning gas. Hydrogen is too far off. It’s not an energy issue, is a manufacturing issue. You can catalyze hydrogen from oil and coal. You just need the plants and transportation system.

That leaves us with conservation and alternative energy.

What if every new home had to have some form of solar power installed? It could be power cells or heat panels. In the Northern areas wind turbines could be substituted. 20k added to a 400k home is not that big of a deal over 30 years

What if every new car or truck under 2 tons had a meaningful fuel tariff added to the price.
35mpg+ no tariff
35-28 $300
27-23 $500
22-18 $1000
Less than 18mpg $5000

No fleet loading as was done in the past, build and sell fuel efficient vehicles or get out of the business.

Additionally, each state would collect additional fees based on the formula for tags. All collected funds go to energy research and mass transit. No use of these funds for roads.

Business use would be exempted but regulated. Something along the lines of demonstrated need and no take home allowed.

Airlines not allowed to fly unless planes are at least 75% capacity.

Recreational fuel for boats, small aircraft, and such where it can be regulated surcharged and set at say 300%.

No tax deduction for business travel---Learn to use technology for meetings and skip the trips to the resorts.

And lastly, countries not adopting economy and environmental measures at least equal to those in the US will be subjected to stiff tariffs on their good imported into the US. If we are going to bite the bullet, then so should the rest of the world.


I’ll bet 50 of Nolan’s dollars that you would see a 10% reduction in energy use in less than 5 years.