Is the US ignoring a fuel alternative?

Boston Globe ^ | 5-23-08 | Clifford Atiyeh

[NoLibZone]

Europeans can buy cars that run on natural gas from at least eight automakers, but despite large reserves of the relatively inexpensive fuel in the United States, the federal government and states, including Massachusetts, are backing pricier biofuels as a way to lessen dependence on imported oil.

[saganite]

One word. Infrastructure.

[RockinRight]

Why DON’T we use natural gas?

Would using it in cars increase prices due to higher demand, making it a moot point AND increasing our heating costs?

[Always Right]

Is the US ignoring a fuel alternative?

Yes, they US is ignoring nuclear. The US is also ignoring the great oil resources in the Gulf and in Alaska that a plan to tap would at least put some pressure on the market to lower prices.

[WellyP]

Get onboard with this new technology. We can only hope that is is half as successful as it looks to be. http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Fuel_Efficiency_Alternative_Fuels Here is a great interview that explains what is going on> http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/ORLANDO-FL/WFLF-AM/jc_bell_gas_3-20-08.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&MARKET=ORLANDO-FL&NG_FORMAT=newstalk&SITE_ID=1140&STATION_ID=WFLF-AM&PCAST_AUTHOR=Jimmy_D.&PCAST_CAT=Talk&PCAST_TITLE=Bud_Hedinger_Live_Afternoons_3p-6

[milwguy]

We could seriously reduce our reliance on foreign oil if we mandated that no electricity be generated from nat gas plants. Currently 25% of our electicity is generated that way. If we went on crash course to replace it with clean coal, nuclear, solar and wind, we could us the nat gas wasted on generating electricity to power public transport in the US. Kansas City I believe already runs their buses this way. Currently oil is twice as expensive as nat gas per btu unit, even with nat gas at historic highs. By eliminating nat gas from electric generation, more than enough would be freed up to power vehicles. Once gas demand dropped, oil would follow qucikly. Tap into Alaska, outer continental shelf and public lands, and we would be on the road to energy independance within 20 years. All we need is the political will to say screw the envirowakco.marxist Branch Algorians.

The politcal class still does not get it. Today on CNBC they showed a survey of who was to blame for high gas prices . CONGRESS led the way with 30%, Pres Bush was 17% and big oil was only 3.7%!

[LZ_Bayonet]

"One word. Infrastructure."

I have natural gas, so I could use it for local travel. The problem for me would be retro-fitting for on-board storage.

[mountainlion]

Natural gas takes as much energy to compress and liquefy the energy in the gas. That means 50% is wasted before it is even used.

[miliantnutcase]

Schwan’s have been using LP to fuel their fleet of trucks for years now.

[Alberta's Child]

If you go back over the last ten years you may find that natural gas has seen dramatic price swings. It may be cheaper right now, but I'm not sure it would stay that way if we started using large quantities of it for something other than its current "normal" use (home heating, electricity generation, etc.).

Look what happened to the price of corn after the government mandated ethanol blends.

[r9etb]

I have natural gas, so I could use it for local travel. The problem for me would be retro-fitting for on-board storage.

Stick a hose up through the driver's seat and apply some duct tape. That would probably do the trick. ;-)

[P8riot]

You mean personal methane reclamation?

[thackney]

Natural Gas Fueling Station Locations
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/natural_gas_locations.html

[tobyhill]

If the vehicles in the US all ran on Natural Gas then because of a lack of coal or nuclear power plants the home electric cost would rise. When Katrina hit 25% of NG was taken off the market and the price doubled. Take 25% and put it in vehicles the price will again double.

[Leisler]

There is a huge natural gas field just off the tip of Cape Cod. However, Massachusetts forbids tapping into it. So, the same field that goes up into Canada, is tapped by Canadians, and then piped down into Massachusetts.

Duh. Kennedy Country.

[thackney]

Guide to Available Natural Gas Vehicles and Engines
http://www.ngvamerica.org/pdfs/marketplace/MP.Analyses.NGVs-a.pdf

[Leisler]

Oh. You are one of THOSE people. A SUPPLY AND DEMAND type.

(/sarcasm off)

[NeoCaveman]

Why DON’T we use natural gas? Would using it in cars increase prices due to higher demand, making it a moot point AND increasing our heating costs?

You answered your own question.

[Leisler]

Leave it to professionals.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"I have natural gas, so I could use it for local travel. The problem for me would be retro-fitting for on-board storage."

"Stick a hose up through the driver's seat and apply some duct tape. That would probably do the trick. ;-)"

And, Dem drivers could just wear a face mask and talk socialist politics while they drive. Yeh, that will work.