U.S. must break free from foreign oil
By Shantell WhiteheadReporter, The Voice
America has always prided itself on independence. However, there is a major threat to American independence looming in the garage of every household in America: the gas-guzzling vehicle so many people rely on every day. American dependency on foreign oil is a harmful addiction that ravages the pocketbooks, environment, and natural resources of not only Americans, but of the world. The solution to the United States' oil problems is to gradually revolutionize the oil industry by introducing alternative fuels.
Switching to alternative fuels will greatly benefit the environment by decreasing the amount of harmful emissions and greenhouse gases that are released into the air by gasoline powered vehicles. Regular vehicles with internal combustion engines emit a vast amount of toxic gases. A possible alternative to reformulated gasoline is ethanol. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, "Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars, [including] corn, barley, and wheat." E10 is a low concentration blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. This formula is effective in reducing emissions and can be used in internal combustion engines. There is also a high concentration blend is known as E85, with 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. While E85 significantly lowers the emissions, only flexible fuel vehicles, or FFVs, can run using this blend. A key advantage of choosing alternative fuels is the inevitable weakening of America's dependency on foreign oil. Ethanol and other forms of alternative fuels are domestically produced with no need for foreign assistance. For many years, the struggle to steady gas prices and the pressure to remain amicable with foreign oil-producing countries has had a detrimental effect on the economy and on international relations. Because ethanol is produced using domestically grown crops such as corn and seemingly useless materials like municipal garbage, it can benefit the economy and ensure no collaboration with outside parties. No true independence can be claimed by the United States until its dependency on foreign oil is extinguished.
In the meantime, electric vehicles and hybrids are other environmentally-friendly options. Batteries or solar power can be used to run these vehicles and they have no tailpipe emissions. They also have lower fuel and maintenance costs than the average gasoline-powered vehicle. Hybrids are a popular choice because they can run on both gasoline and electricity.
While the typical college student may not be able to afford such vehicles, other alternatives are still available. Public transportation, such as buses and shuttles, are excellent options. Another great alternative is a bicycle. Beautiful spring weather makes this season the perfect time to dust off the ol' six-speed. Alternative fuels are the future of energy in transportation. The beneficial effects it will have on the current environmental concerns cannot be matched by any other form of repair. The dependency of America on foreign oil sources will be gradually diminished as more and more alternative fuel methods are embraced by domestic producers. The replacement of gasoline by alternative fuels may be difficult, but the resources are available to make it happen. America must provoke this change because, as the unforgettable words of Bob Dylan remind us, "The times they are a-changin'."
