"Recent developments in world oil markets, including rapid growth in global demand and the emergence of terrorist threats to oil facilities, are bringing new urgency to perennial concerns about the nation's exposure to oil price shocks and supply disruptions," the panel's report said.
Among the recommendations is diversifying our oil supply, increasing our oil reserves, better fuel economy for cars and "The commission suggests mandatory limits on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming that can be spewed by power plants, oil refineries and other industrial facilities."
This is put out days before the auto industry plans to sue the state of California for its plans to impose mandatory cuts in CO2 emissions from cars. (Link)
Bush needs to come to the realization that oil prices will only go up as world demand increases and oil reserves diminish. A fundamental shift in the US energy polity should move towards alternative and renewable energy supplies. If not for environmental reasons that the committee recognizes as real, then it must be done for national security. As long as we are dependant on middle east oil, our nation will continue to be the target of terrorist organizations. Only when we are able to remove ourselves from the fray of middle east politics - supporting royal families that oppress their own people - can we really start to change world attitude about the motivation behind our involvement there.
We have the technology to change our future. Fuel efficient cars exist. The technology to create cheap renewable energy is right around the corner. Imagine the difference we would have, if instead of putting 5 billion dollars a month into Iraq, we were putting 5 billion dollars a month into renewable energy technology research. JFK made a call to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60's and America answered the call. We can do the same in regards to ridding ourselves of our addiction to middle east oil. The time is now, not later.
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