These goals in the Markey Bill are completely reachable.
The oil companies are probably spending more smokescreen dollars than they are research for cleaner fuel.
Where the automakers are spending billions on research for better fuel efficiency, companies like Exxon Mobil are making record profits. I remember in 2006 oil companies were trying to blame automakers for the lack of fuel efficiency in their vehicles, which is a valid point - but that is part of the smokescreen. Point fingers elsewhere and you'll be left alone long enough to rake the cash in. All I could find regarding that news was this article:
Automakers, Oil companies bicker over who's responsible for high gas prices Quote:
|
Auto makers "have spent billions developing cleaner, more efficient technologies," Mr. Vines wrote. "Big Oil would rather fill the pockets of its executives and shareholders, rather than spend sufficient amounts to reduce the price of fuel, letting consumers, during tough economic times, pick up the tab."
|
I am thinking we will only get better fuel efficiency while the demand for it is high, and the only time we get high demand for fuel efficiency is when gas prices are inflated. So in a way, the oil companies are creating their own decent profit wise. They are literally forcing the automakers to build better fuel efficient cars and research different fuel sources. Ironic, yet - it is what we need; high fuel prices means pressure on the consumers, while pressure is on the consumers pressure will be on the automakers. It seems it will always be win-win for Oil. I say we throw way more responsibility on these profitable giants. Their record profits can pay for a lot of research into a green fuel source.
While better fuel efficiency will definitely help, it won't eliminate our issues. 35 mpg is still too high, considering the population of drivers will be even more massive by 2018. These goals are almost pitiful.
Governments love oil companies, how do we ask them to penalize them for their success?