Europe trying to get serious on oil independence
Oil dependency just a game in the US?
Now that automakers are selling plug-in vehicles, oil independence is just around the corner, right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Sadly, despite their long term potential plug-in vehicles are in many ways just a greenwashing excuse to continue the gas-guzzling status quo as long as possible.
So, let’s get real. If Europe might be able to end oil dependence by 2050, when will the US end its oil dependence, 2100?
While it’s easy to laugh at a number like 2100, there is no serious plan in the US to get off oil, and if the only way that Europe can get off oil by 2050 is with an aggressive, long term “unwavering” plan that embraces a plethora of technologies and alternative fuels as the only path to success, might it not take much longer for the US to achieve the same goal since we use significantly more oil and the country is less centralized?
Recently, I asked whether foreign oil independence by 2030 was possible. More important, I asked why there isn’t a massive research effort into ways of achieving foreign oil independence as quickly as possible such as is already occurring in Europe? Is foreign oil independence simply too incomprehensible for American voters and politicians?
Anyway, based upon Europe’s comprehensive studies into this subject, the obvious answer seems to be that foreign oil independence by 2030 is not possible. So, when might the US achieve oil independence, or at least foreign oil independence? What options exist? Will the US ever fully investigate this subject?
Or, maybe there is room for optimism. Is it possible that the US could be oil free before Europe? With our massive natural gas supplies and agribusiness know-how, particularly regarding bio-technologies, might not the US beat Europe to oil independence if we put forth a comprehensive plan?
Will we ever know, or will the US just wing it with our free markets that aren’t actually as free as proclaimed?