Free Market Capitalism and the Environment.

Published on April 3, 2005 By Jamie Burnside In Current Events

As I am writing this article, I am listening to a radio report on BBC radio. It says that due to increasing demand, oil prices may soon exceed $100 per barrel.

Such a high oil price would cause a reduction in consumption, and a rush to develop alternative technologies. Alternative technologies would presumably be more eco-friendly than those reliant on fossil fuels. (Namely oil)

In a sense, market pressures could possibly drive a move toward more environmentally-protective energy use. Interesting...

(I won't get into speculating as to why the West's acquisition of Iraq's oil hasn't resulted in downward pressure on oil prices. Isn't that why we (Americans) were there anyway?)

Comments

Evorg

on Apr 04, 2005

There is always some kind of Impetus, this might as well be one of them. I do foresee hybrid cars before hydrogen fuel cell cars, but thats something to be discussed another day.

The fuel cell technology is maturing, GMC just delivered its first hydrogen fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Silverado to the U.S. Army.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., steps out of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck designed by General Motors Corp., Friday, April 1, 2005, in Honeoye Falls, New York. The truck, designed for the U.S. Army, is a modified Chevrolet Silverado. (AP Photo/Democrat & Chronicle, Jamie Germano)

U.S. Army Brigadier General Roger A. Nadeau says he is excited to put into service the world's first fuel cell powered truck designed by General Motors Corp., Friday, April 1, 2005 in Honeoye Falls, N.Y. The truck designed for the U.S. Army is a modified Chevrolet Silverado and is equipped with two 94 kw fuel cell stacks capable of generating 188 kw of power. (AP Photo/Democrat & Chronicle, Jamie Germano)

In this photo provided by General Motors, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks about hydrogen fuel cell technology and the spinoff benefits for American Soccer Moms at an event marking General Motors' delivery of the U.S. Army's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered pickup at the General Motors research facility outside of Rochester, NY, Friday, April 1, 2005. Clinton was instrumental in securing funds in the 2005 Department of Defense appropriations on behalf of GM's experimental truck whose fuel cell modules are produced at the facility. The U.S. Army will perform rigorous testing in different climates and locations around the U.S. to assess performance and give the military first-hand experience with hydrogen and fuel cells. (AP Photo/General Motors, Max Schulte)

Now, before somebody pipes in about platinum or oil, they should really research the latest technological advances in hydrogen fuel cells.

But, Jamie you got a good article here.

joeKnowledge

on Apr 04, 2005

... not go deeply into the Iraq issue, but when people were screeming bloody murder for oil, I was telling them that why would you spend BILLIONS of dollars to control oil just to find out (actually you know already) that oil supplies on the Earth will not exist in 30 years.

On top of that, the demand for oil is increasing MOSTLY because developing natioons are demanding more oil. As this moves foward, and oil supplies lessen, Iraq invasion for oil seems very much stupid if you think we went in to control someting that isn't really worth controling anymore.

Anothing thing... or two. Thier is much oil in Russia that would extend the 30 year supply to what I would guess 50... but who wants russia to control wolrd oil supply? Look what happened when Saudia Arabia did it

Some of the richest nations with the poorest people in the world LITERALLY poor, not USA poor.

I have read that for the most part some alrternative power hasn't been used mostly because of the cost it would be to put the infrastructure in place.

TRUST ME, when oil runs low, terrorist etting their money fromoil has been the established norm, and so on well WILL have cell fuel stations rather than oil stations.

Jillie BEan

on Apr 06, 2005

It would be about &^%$ time that we put into production the technology that was developed in the 70's for fuel effecient cars. The Big # have had the knowledge but not the push from the consumer for it.

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