Even if Carl Henn’s warnings regarding the dangers of oil depletion are true (“Leave oil before oil leaves us,” Letters, Feb. 23) his proposed “solutions” of “a strong tax on fossil fuels” and “renewable energy” are as predictable as they are impractical.
Certainly, no serious person believes the government would “use the proceeds to reduce our exploding debt.” And if Mr. Henn’s “renewable energy” translates to “electricity,” then we had better start building a lot more generating capacity because the current grid is not sufficient to support such a massive increase in demand. Reinstate the 55-mph speed limit? He must be joking.
Fortunately, because much of our oil consumption is used for transportation, domestically produced natural gas provides a reasonable, clean and practical alternative. Many buses and trucks - and even some cars - are powered by natural gas. America has an abundance of natural gas from conventional stocks, and new extraction methods have increased those supplies. Unconventional sources hold the promise of a virtually unlimited supply.
According to the Department of Energy, natural gas formations right off our shores could provide many hundreds - if not thousands - of years of gas supply, more than enough to replace gasoline. Relatively little new infrastructure would be required because we already have a natural gas distribution system throughout North America. Natural gas filling stations already are present in many areas.
Clean, safe and abundant, domestically produced natural gas is the practical and economical alternative energy source to reduce our use of foreign oil.
ROGER JOHNSON
Kensington, Md.
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