Switch to Desktop Site


About these ads
Altering the economics of alternative energy

Regarding the Oct. 21 article "Breaking free": The best thing the government could do to encourage development of alternative modes of transportation would be to increase the gas tax. Right now, the gas tax does not even cover the cost of building and maintaining roads. A tax increase would force the market to find more efficient ways to travel, which is far better than letting Congress try to guess what the future will be like through legislative grants.

To minimize the shock to the economy, the tax could be phased in over time and accompanied by a comparable across-the-board income tax cut.
Brad Wilks
Wexford, Pa.

To suggest, as John Felmy did, that the long-term economic stability and well-being of this nation should take into account the possible negative economic impact on Saudi Arabia, the homeland of the majority of the 9/11 terrorists, is incomprehensible. And to lament the "hit" that Detroit might take as a result of making automobiles more efficient puzzles me. Detroit is in the transportation business, not the oil business, and new technology would most likely give the industry an edge over foreign competition.

I suspect that Mr. Felmy's concerns can be better understood when viewed from his position as chief economist of the American Petroleum Institute. As long as our energy decisions are shaped by the people and the thinking of the automotive and petroleum industries, we will find ourselves without a coherent energy strategy and affected by conflicts like those in Nigeria and Iraq right now.
Jud Mygatt
Livingston, Texas

The Oct. 22 article "As oil rises, cleaner energy surges" reminds me of your unparalleled coverage of alternate-energy development 30 years ago. Had these technologies been promoted by continuing the tax incentives begun by Jimmy Carter, we would not be in the oil-fueled mess we are in today.


Page:   1   |   2