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Treatment For Our Oil Addiction

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2007

With oil prices approaching $100 a barrel, now is the time for Washington to get serious about ending the nation's addiction to oil. Fortunately, sensible measures making their way through Congress would lessen our dependence.

The Senate's version of the energy bill would require all automakers, foreign and domestic, to produce vehicles that average 35 miles per gallon by 2010. The standard has not been revised in more than 20 years.

The proposal makes allowances for domestic automakers, which make more trucks and sport utility vehicles than foreign companies. The companies would have to make these vehicles average 33.2 mpg, while foreign automakers, which trade mostly in smaller vehicles, would have to reach 38.2 mph.

The numbers are achievable. Indeed, they may be conservative. New technology is allowing better mileage even in larger vehicles. And safety should not be an issue. Scientists are developing lighter auto body materials that are as strong - or stronger - than standard steel.

The deadline gives automakers plenty of time to meet the goals.

The House's energy bill has another smart idea - requiring the nation's power companies to obtain 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Of that, 4 percent could come from improving energy efficiency.

Since the nation now gets about 5 or 6 percent of its power from renewable sources - wind, water, solar and biofuels - this would require utilities to roughly double renewable production in 13 years.

Given the progress being made with renewable energy sources, the goal should not be formidable.

Sweden, which has aggressively pursued the use of solar, wave and biomass, plans to make the nation virtually fossil-fuel free by 2020. And its economy is growing.

Encouraging the use of renewable energy sources would not only clean the air, but increase our energy independence and create new jobs and businesses.

And Florida, with its sunny weather, surrounding waters and innovative agricultural industry, is well positioned to be a national leader in the production of renewable energy.

Congress should adopt these measures and ensure the nation a future with cleaner, diverse and reliable energy sources.

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