SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Drivers across America are rejoicing at falling gasoline prices as pumps across the country dip below $3 a gallon. But according to Sharon E. Burke while it's nice to get the break at the gas pump and the economic benefits of an energy boom at home, the national security price of oil remains high. Burke says that the United States should be doing everything it can to diversify global energy suppliers, and that ultimately the only way to solve our long term energy problem is to make a sustained, long-term investment in alternatives to petroleum. October saw a 52 percent jump in Jeep SUV sales and a 36 percent rise in Ram trucks while some hybrid and electric vehicle sales fell at the same time. “This is like putting a Big Mac in front of people who need to diet or watch their cholesterol,” says Anthony Perl. “Some people might have the willpower to stick with their program, and some people will wait until their first heart attack before committing to a diet—but if we do that at a planetary scale it will be pretty traumatic.”
Nicholas St. Fleur writes at The Atlantic that low oil prices may also undermine the message from the UN’s climate panel. The price drop comes after the UN declared earlier this week that fossil fuel emissions must drop to zero by the end of the century in order to keep global temperatures in check. “I don’t think people will see the urgency of dealing with fossil fuels today,” says Perl. Falling oil prices may also deter businesses from switching to energy-saving technology, as a 2006 study in the Energy Journal suggested. Saving several pennies at the pump, Perl says, may tempt Americans away from actions that can lead to a sustainable, post-carbon future.
(Score: 2) by Appalbarry on Saturday November 08 2014, @10:44PM
YMMV. I live on the North Shore above Vancouver BC. Transit here sucks.
Every couple of weeks I need to go to a meeting in downtown Vancouver. Barring some kind of massive traffic disaster, I can drive there from my home in about 25 minutes, and it will cost me about $3.00 in gasoline.
(NOTE: My vehicle is for business, and the costs of ownership, insurance, and maintenance are sunk costs that aren't relevant to my decision how to travel.) (Which is actually true of every vehicle owner. The fixed costs of ownership are the same whether you drive or leave it parked.)
If I want to make the same trip by transit I need to add a MINIMUM 45 minutes each way (assuming I make the connections) plus pay $8.00 in fares.
There's simply no way that makes any sense.
Transit is only appealing if it's cheap, frequent, and goes where you need it, when you need it. Aside from daily communing at fixed times, transit needs to be easy enough that you don't feel the need to plan in advance.
(Score: 2) by hankwang on Sunday November 09 2014, @06:45AM
"the costs of ownership, insurance, and maintenance are sunk costs that aren't relevant to my decision how to travel.)"
Maintenance costs depend on usage, and so does the cost of ownership as you have to write off a heavily used car faster than one that is left unused in a garage. Say, $24 k purchase price over 200,000 miles mechanical lifetime makes $0,12 per mile, which is significant compared to $0.07 per mile for a 38 mpg car at $3/gallon - not even including the increased maintenance costs. You could refine this calculation by looking at used-car prices for different milages, but fact is that there are other usage-dependent costs besides fuel. IMO you are deluding yourself by not weighting those costs in your decision on how to travel.
Avantslash: SoylentNews for mobile [avantslash.org]
(Score: 2) by VLM on Sunday November 09 2014, @12:16PM
If I want to make the same trip by transit I need to add a MINIMUM 45 minutes each way (assuming I make the connections) plus pay $8.00 in fares.
You live in a pretty advanced area, at least WRT mass transit. Where I live its much cruder so its more like two hours although only about $4 in fares.
Theoretically the IRS would let me deduct about $10 but I have a small cheap commuter car so its much cheaper, and its only about a 25 minute drive door to door. Thats about $4/hr which is very cheap compared to ... everything. Its about a tenth my income rate, about a third what a movie theater costs per hour, cheaper than going to any restaurant above McDonalds level.