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Alternative resources to petroleum
Name: James D Miks
Status: Other
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
How do you propose we get another resource if the United States petroleum was
limited?
What could we use as a substitute resource?
Replies:
If the Unites States oil supply is cut off by a war in the Middle East (like
in the early 1990's) or by price hikes by oil-producing countries (like in the
early 1970's) the first thing we would do is look for another supplier, such
as Russia, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, etc. If we cannot find another
supplier, we might look for more oil in the United States, like Alaska or off
the coast of California, but that can cause too much environmental damage. A
third alternative would be to substitute other fuels, such as natural gas or
ethanol ("gasohol"). Solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal are other
possible substitutes, as are coal and nuclear fission, but these last two also
cause pollution problems. The fourth way I can think of to respond to an oil
shortage is just to get by without it: insulate your home, turn your
thermostat down, turn lights off when you are not using them, take the bus,
ride a bike or walk to get where you need to go.
Mortis
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Update: June 2012
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