Congressmen: Oil crisis has no easy solution
By RYAN JELTEMA
Sentinel-Standard writer
IONIA -- Two U.S. Congressmen agree: Conservation is key to reducing gas prices in the United States.
Alternative fuels are being developed, but they are at least 15 years away from becoming mainstream, said Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids). Before that occurs, Americans need to reduce the amount of fuel they use, otherwise prices will continue climbing, according to a statement released Wednesday by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan).
Congress cannot reduce gas prices on its own and they will probably not fall on their own.
"I don't see any change in prices soon. We live in a free market system where laws of economics prevail," Ehlers said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. "Right now we're in a scarcity."
He attributes the shortage of oil to rapidly increasing demand from China and energy waste in America, while production has remained steady. Ehlers and Levin said Americans should do more to save energy and Congress should do more to promote conservation.
Using less oil would drive down the prices.
"We can get a bigger supply (of oil) by conserving. It's less expensive to use energy more efficiently than to develop new sources," Ehlers said.
However, there is no quick fix in saving energy.
"It will take a lot of individual effort by citizens interested in saving money," he said. "There are millions of small ways. There's nothing glamorous or sexy."
The most effective way would be driving smaller, more fuel efficient cars than sport utility vehicles. But that would be a tough sell for many Americans.
"The Hummer is an atrocity," Ehlers said. "People like that 'big car' feel, but they pay for it."
Gas/electric hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius or Ford Escape, are a good solution, he said. The federal government currently offers a $2,000 tax credit for the purchase of a hybrid.
Levin wrote that the government should offer more similar incentives to promote new technology.
"We must support more generous tax credits for consumers . . . that will help cover the additional costs of new technology and encourage consumers to make the investment in these technologies," he wrote.
Alternative fuels, such as clean diesel and ethanol, are another possible solution. They are better for the environment and cheaper to burn.
Ehlers said one-half of European vehicles now burn diesel fuel.
"Hybrid and advanced clean diesel vehicles offer potential to increase our overall fuel economy and significantly reduce our consumption of oil," Levin wrote.
Americans should also find ways to drive less -- possibly utilizing public transportation more often. The sticking point with that, however, is transit systems require massive funding up front to develop a complete system, but there are not enough funding sources available.
"We need a method to get a system a shot in the arm to get started," Ehlers said.
Simply drilling more oil is only a short-term solution. Although the U.S. Senate narrowly approved an unofficial measure last month to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil production, Ehlers said it will not significantly affect prices.
Both Levin and Ehlers have consistently opposed drilling in ANWR.
"It may provide relief for five years or so. Then what are we going to do?" he said. "We can't drill our way out of this. We've got to get out of this mentality. There is just a finite amount of oil underground."
The long-term answer to high prices is reducing dependence on oil by finding new sources of energy. The most promising new technology to accomplish that goal appears to be hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
They create energy by joining hydrogen atoms with oxygen to create water. The only emission, then, is water vapor or steam.
President George W. Bush proposed a measure in 2003 to establish a five-year $1.7 billion research project to develop safe, affordable fuel cells and a distribution infrastructure.
"Federal government investment is essential not only in research and development, but also as a mechanism to push the market toward greater use and acceptance of advanced technology through federal government purchase requirements and consumer tax incentives," Levin wrote.
Last month, a number of energy companies and automakers, including Ford and G.M., announced a partnership to develop a test fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles. They hope to mass market them in 10 to 15 years.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are already being used by the U.S. Army and as shuttle buses at Florida airports. Most large automakers spend millions annually developing fuel cells.
"It's a great way to go," Ehlers said. "It's something we should pursue."
Still, a lot of work remains before fuel cell vehicles can be mass produced in America, he said.
Researchers must first find an efficient way to manufacture hydrogen, since it does not occur naturally in pure form. That may involve splitting hydrogen atoms off compounds such as water or hydrochloric acid using heat or electricity, he said.
Yet, that involves expending energy to create energy.
Researchers also need to develop a safe method of transporting hydrogen to local fueling stations, Ehlers said, since it is highly explosive. Underground pipelines, which are used to transport mass quantities of gasoline, probably would not work for hydrogen.
"Until we develop a way to produce and store (hydrogen), it will be a long time coming," he said. "We have a lot of work to do. A lot of infrastructure issues have to be solved."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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