Are we (as Americans) ever going to be able to free our addiction from oil?
85461
I think we will eventually.  For a few reasons:\n1) There finally seems to be enough momentum and interest on the part of consumers for vehicles that consume less gas.  Its no longer a "fringe thing" or a hobby or a "tree hugger" thing.  Every day people are fed up with high gas prices and our dependence on less friendly nations.  The more demand there is from consumers, the more incentive manufacturers will have to make such vehicles.\n2) Gas prices are not coming down significantly anytime soon.  There was a bit on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago where Texas Billionaire investor T. Boone Pickens was discussing investments he was making in Canadian Oil Sands.  He said "We'll never see $1.50 gas again."  I agree.  With the surging demand from countries that are just starting out in their economic growth cycles (India and China), the demand for all petroleum based products is only going to get worse.  This will further push up world oil prices and further infuriate already frustrated consumers of gas.\n3) On the innovation front, Venture Capital firms and others with money to invest are looking for the "next big thing".  The Internet was the fad of the 90's.  Now, looking for a new wave to catch, I'd say a significant amount of money is going into startups looking at ways to reduce our dependence on petroleum.  This could include investments in Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Technologies, Solar Technologies, BioDiesel, etc.  Innovations that come out of these investment efforts should, hopefully, yield some technologies that help the US (and world) consumers break their addiction to oil.
1152081
global oil conglomerates aka the cookie monster, greed at it's most BASIC element.  The internal combustion engine has been obsolete since the 1950s.  Oil companies this year have set record profits, so much so  that the US government is  trying to figure out what to do about it.  Renewable energies equates to no profits these companies will sooner shove oil down our throats(WW III) rather than to allow renewable energies to become main stream.  Look for the US government to lead the world into a global government!!!!!
425895
I would very much like to Contribute to the Well Being of Society but by Law I am not Allowed at this Point. I've come up with a way to Convert Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane. All Petroleum is essentially the same, on a Molecular Level. It's only the Dispersal that's Altered.What this would do to Benefit Society would be to signifigantly lessen Dependency on Petroleum, and at least Slow Down Global Warming. Granted, that Issue is Debatable, but Air Pollution is not. As to the Law , all Vehicles made from 1996 to the Present are Required to Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel.That's the OBD II EPA Mandate.No Changes are Allowed, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered! My Gasoline to Propane Converter is Set for 100 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel, just like Propane, but with even more Engine Power. Engines Run Best on Vapor, not 14.7 to 1 Atomized Liquid Fuel. If This is not so, then how is it that Engines DO run on Large, Cumbersome, Expensive Propane Tank Cylinders? Again, there is no Molecular Difference, only the Dispersal.I've been to the US Patent Office and Looked at other Units that have been kept off the Market, so don't even go There ! See, Money has $topped it every Time ! I'd very much like to fix up a whole Fleet of Vehicles, and Donate Them to the Meals on Wheels Program, and keep them Insured, and Fueled Up. There are Plenty of Good People that want to Help, but with Gas. going back to $3 per Gallon, it gets Expensive ! Also, there are Military Veterans Assistance Services that get no Government Funding. We All Owe Them so very much.They often need Transportation for Medical Care. And there are so Many other charitable Organizations that could use a Hand-Up, not a Hand Out. You want Some Numbers? 50 + MPG, with even the Largest Gasoline Powered SUV's Hybirds? On the Highway, the Gasoline Engine has to Run, Plus, the Expense, and Weight of the Batteries.To sum Up, I'd like to do More for the Well Being of Society if I could be Allowed to do so. Greed, Big Oil, and the EPA have Stopped it Cold!
1171490
So far, there's not enough demand to warrent the extra cost of developing alternative energy sources.  In order to stop using oil (for power) we will need to find cheaper ways of getting alternative energy or become much more motivated to do so.
660108
Pass a law preventing the Oil Companies from Raping us.\nDubya is in bed with them though, so it won't happen soon!
1050302
Yes its possible, but will it happen?  No because there is no oil there for us.
643735
We have already - It's just a matter of the 'powers that be' letting it on to the market. That won't happen until crude oil is almost completely depleted and they can make top dollar on the substitutes (or take your house, first child etc...).
1073624
55 gal...no, we're not running out anytime soon. Just be prepared for european style prices until people start carpooling to work and trading in hummers/SUV's.\n\nChina & India are buying crude/crude futures like crazy. Nigeria & Argentina aren't producing to capacity. Katrina damaged a lot of US rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. \n\nWe still produce around half of the crude(which we turn to gas) we use daily. We also have "strategic reserves" of crude which we keep for things like wars but use when supplies get tight.\n\nSo we either reduce our demand, pay higher prices, or start drilling in Alaska and off our coast. I carpool with a coworker in a Miata. S*rew those OPEC countries- conserve!!!!
717610
We will never be independent until the oil and coal tycoons are no longer in silent power.  Until presidential candidates are no longer allowed to take campaign donations from these companies, no government official will enforce a law for E85, or any other like it.  We should because it is the best for our environment.  We will not need to level entire ridges for coal seams or spill oil and cause much destruction to natural habitat.  The health of the nation will improve, and the earth will be much better for it, but I don't foresee it ever happening in my lifetime.
1144949
Absolutely.  There is plenty of oil, enough to last for 100's of years.  Actually if you look at it logically, we will never really run out of oil.  Supplies will dwindle, we will tap into other sources, like oil shale, and oil sand, but the production cots will go up.  Eventually we will get to a point, where the cost is high enough, to make alternative energy sources, profitable.  Once that happens, competition and the free market system will find a cheap efficient substitute, and we will leave oil usage to the third world.
297123
Our government already helps the oil companies.\n\n It's called sleeping in the same bed, aka, "bedfellows".
223955
YES YES YES!\n\nThe only way to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil in the near future is to drill for more oil HERE!\n\nIf the tree huggers don't like it tell them to stop driving cars, using electricity and heating their homes so there is more oil for the rest of us.\n\n****\n\nHey Gonzo, If by conservation you mean saving every bug, animal and tree on the face of the earth so you can have a pretty view as you drive your SUV through the country yeah I've heard of that. If left up to you folks we’d all be living out in the woods singing kumbuya hugging the trees, eating mushrooms, berries and getting eaten by wolves and bears. \n\nThis nation needs energy. Currently our best source of energy comes from oil, coal and natural gas. Now, if you can come up with a better way to get those things out of the ground with out harming all of your bugs and trees I'd love to hear about it. After we're done pulling all the resources out, so you can be nice safe and warm in your home.  I'm all in favor of planting trees there, they do grow back you know...  As for me when I have to choose between heating my home and saving a tree or the squirrel that lives in that tree. The tree and the squirrel are going to loose every time.
471050
Are you people serious? our oil and gasoline is Subsidized by the US government.  While your crying about $3 a gallon for gasoline, Europe is paying upwards of $7 a liter for their petrol.  The government is the only thing keeping you driving the 4X4 and giant SUV, wake up.\n\nEdit: and while your on Yahoo Answers moaning to all of your "friends" about how evil a democracy the US gov't is, they are loosening the restrictions on your car's waste output, and opening the countries fuel supply for personal use so YOU don't have to ride your bike to the mall tomorrow.\n\nEdit2: YES they CAN use the excuse they cannot convert oil->gasoline.  We are currently refining at MAX capacity (when weather systems allow) We havn't made a new refinery since the 70s, and since it take almost 20 YEARS to complete a new refinery, don't hold your breath. (10 years to complete an oil rig)  Also, why the hell would Exon make a new refinery? From a business standpoint, they have NO motivation to do so, they are getting prime price for their product.
639722
Yes. In about 150 years there will be no oil if we continue this way.\nAnyway .. there are unlimited resources, at least for energy, ... solar/eolian/waterfall energy.\nHope this helps
298590
We need an alternative government to go with our alternative fuels.  It won't happen until we get someone in the white hose with out any ties to BIG OIL.  This goes for the Dems too.
530973
Well up until this point it wasn't much of a problem. As populations grow so does the demand and although there is technology out there and the knowledge of conservation very few folks want to do much about it. The other side of that coin is this. All these other countries trade grain and other commodities we make for there oil and without the oil we would have no need for them and that scares them to death. they would have nothing to trade. If we stopped tomorrow buying foreign oil the price of oil would plummet. We get around 31 percent of our oil from the middle east and south America. the rest we get here and off shore wells and from Canada which gives us a huge chunk of it. The United States feeds the world when it comes to grain with the exception of rice. If we didn't need the other countries oil they would go broke and starve. That's why we are so worried about them and they us.\nAnd in case you are wondering we produce 51 percent of our own oil.
1152736
Don't kid yourselves people.  IT'S ALL OF US WHO ARE TO BLAME!!!  If you want to cut our nations dependence on oil, quit using so much of it!  Utilize public transportation, change out that SUV for a hybrid, or a more fuel economical vehichle.  Don't go to Wallmart every day, make your trip to the store only once a week.  Lower the heat in your house in the winter, don't run the AC so much in the summer.  It's all up to us.  I work in the oil field, and I tell you, the oil companies will continue to provide more and more oil at higher and higher prices until people quit the cycle.