Are low gas prices diametrically opposed to our goal of energy independence?  It would seem so.  When gas prices were over $4/gallon, everyone was clamoring for alternative energy.  Now that gas prices have fallen below and remain under $2/gallon, the clamor has gone very quiet.

In a story from the Indianapolis Star, they say “We Can Only Dream About Low Gas Prices, Independence”.  The writer goes on to explain what it would take to achieve these two goals:

To Get Low Gas Prices

• Encourage more domestic drilling
• Give companies incentives to drill where oil is cheap (Middle East, Russia)
• This would make us even more dependent

To Get Independent

• Make gas prices really high
• Large tax would anger many
• Politicians fear voter backlash

Given these assumptions, then yes, these two objectives do seem to be mutually exclusive.  The story goes on to say that we continue to gamble on innovation and technological advances in an attempt to solve these two contradictory goals.  So far we have been unsuccessful.  The electric car is the next such “fix” on the horizon and it faces an uphill battle.  Low gas prices mean that it will take a lot longer to recoup the additional $10,000 you have to spend to purchase one.  The new stimulus package will offer tax breaks, but this ends up costing us all in the long run.

In principle, I agree with this basic premise and it is hard to argue with history.  The problem I have with this thinking is that it never addresses conservation.  Instead of trying to reduce our wasteful consumption, we continue to focus on finding more oil at a cheap price.  We can keep gas prices low and reduce our dependence at the same time by simply cutting our usage.

Click on the links below to see the price tag of our current commuting habits:

• Lots of cars cost lots of money
• Over $60 billion wasted annually in traffic
• Fight for energy independence

Instead of looking for the next “fad diet”, we need to focus on consuming less and conserving more.  For long term weight loss, you need to eat less and exercise, it really is that simple.  Can we curb our voracious appetite for oil and improve our energy efficiency?

photo credit: Wesley Fryer