I managed to find somebody yesterday who is optimistic about the US economy! . He was quite a smart fellow who owns a print and copy shop and owns a masters degree in economics. No dummy. And what he said did make sense to some degree. He forecasted that the devaluation of the dollar is a blessing which will lead to more exporting from the US being possible and that this will lead in the next year or two to a new boom in manufacturing in the USA. I hope he is right. I am not so sure. But it was at least good to meet someone who has an optimistic viewpoint about the American economy and where it is headed. If one steps back and takes a deep breath and looks at the shocking increase in gas prices then they can apply this same brand of optimism. .
There is one great benefit of the high price of oil which should be a cause of celebration amongst the environmental organizations: it is giving many people reason to look into other fuel sources, so much so that the high price may usher in a tsunami of renewable energy projects which could, consequently, lead to greater scale economies and perhaps the mainstreaming of alternative energy. This would be a serious lemons to lemonade sort of scenario.
Overall, the high price of energy is doing some pretty bad things -- but if it can help shift the playing field to alternative energy, this silver lining may end up being an amazing turning point in history.
The longer gas prices continue to rise, the greater the significance of potential consumer drift. A 10% rise in fuel prices lowers consumption by just 0.6% in the short term, but it reduces demand much more substantially over a the long haul
As individuals decide on the important things for the future, such as where they want to reside and what kind of vehicle to drive, they are starting to factor the price of gas into the equation. Some are selecting smaller cars or are relocating nearer to their offices to lower gas consumption.
The current situation concern has delayed or impeded many new subdivisons, high fuel prices have lessened consumption and resulted in less purchasing of, and increasing construction costs are restraining new coal and gasoline facilities.
At the same time, economic incentives are generating a frenzy of new clean energy construction.
But the truly amazing factor is that all that is going on while the real remedy for to increase in fuel economy and helping the environment through cleaner emissions is RIGHT HERE AT
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