Calls for America to become “energy independent” come from across the political spectrum. Among the most important energy-security advocates are conservatives concerned about national security. To make America less “dependent” on energy purchases from unstable regimes, they have proposed a variety of measures aimed at reducing the use of oil.
However, rather than make the nation more secure, the proposed measures have the potential to inflict significant economic damage. … Burning food as fuel is simply not efficient.
To meet even modest demands for replacement of gasoline and continue to feed Americans and their livestock, millions of acres of land would need to be clear-cut to provide growing room. …
The ethanol industry is only economic with vast subsidies. … Any flex-fuel vehicle mandate would require backing from a massive system of handouts and incentives … [which would be] a massive drain on the economy and put America at a significant competitive disadvantage.
This would help lower the price of oil, but the biggest beneficiaries will be the Chinese, who will leap at the chance to use a more efficient source of energy at a lower cost. …
To abandon the use [of fossil fuels] prematurely would be a massive mistake, weakening America just as it needs to be its strongest.
Read more @ www.cei.org
