Gas - Prices, Alternative Sources

1. Prices of gas-Prices of gas around the world are fluctuating from high to low, here are the current prices of gas in some areas around the world.
a) U.S.-3.10
b) U.K.-5.30
c) Germany-3.81
d) Japan-3.84
e) Switzerland-4.56
f) Canada-1.90
g) Mexico-2.21
h) Country in South America-Venezuela- .14 cents a gallon
i) 2 Countries in Middle East- Russia- 1.45
China-1.54

It seems that one of the most expensive areas to buy gasoline at the moment is in the United Kingdom. The United states does not seem to be at the height of the gas prices, in fact it seems that we are closer to the medium of all the other countries. Venezuela seems to have the lowest price, possibly because the are able to gather their own fuels.

2. Alternative Fuel Sources-Fossil fuels are not our only source of powering our vehicles, and hopefully will not be the only source of powering our vehicles, other sources like biodeiesel are our alternatives, some are more cost effective, while others are healthier for our planet.

A.) Biodeiesel- Domestic produce, renewable resource, manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant grease. It's safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious pollutants that are in the air we breath and the atmosphere

B.) Electric-Battery electric, and fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs) use stored energy from batteries. Fuel cells us electricity from electrochemical reactions when hydrogen and oxygen are combined.

C.)Ethanol- alcohol based, alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Corn, barley, and wheat. Cellulose biomass is another. Also from trees and grasses, called biothanol.

D.)Methanol-Wood alcohol, flexible fuel, vehicles that run on m85(blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline) however is not commonly used because automobile manufactures do not produce them anymore, or supply methanol powered vehicles.

3.Alternative sources of fossil fuels-There are other locations to find fossil fuels that are not just limited to the area's we have been drilling. Locations such as the Gulf of Mexico, and the Artic National Refuge could house a massive amount of fuel for us to drill and obtain, or so it is thought.

a) Artic National Refuge- The Artic National Wildlife Refuge is located in Alaska and has yet to be drilled. An disagreement between two sides has conflicted any possible drilling in that area for the time being. One side believes that drilling in the area could lead to a great abundance in oil and possibly lower the prices of oil in the us so that gas can once again become readily cheep and available for people to use. The other side believes that the refuge should be left alone, so that the plants, animals, and habitat may be left in piece, without being disturbed by the drilling

As for the side that seeks to drill the area, they seem to be pushing congress farther into action, getting them ever closer to passing the right to drill on the ANWR even closer. They are being persuaded to do it, because most of them believe it will help lower the cost of gas, which they themselves have to buy, and when the price of gas is more affordable, they believe the US will be better off and back on track.

The Side that does not want the drilling to happen is on the loosing end, their views may be persuading the people in congress to keep a firm hold on their beliefs that the refuge should be off limits to drilling, but more and more are falling to the side of passing the drilling. The side that does not want the refuge drilled believes that when it is drilled it will destroy one of the most isolated, and most in tact and untouched by civilization, areas in the U.S. that still exists.

4. What would be the economic impact of a shifting to alternative fuels?
a) Drilling in the Artic- The impact of changing to an alternative fuel will be that the fuels will no longer be needed, meaning that the drilling in the ANWR will not be required, thus saving us the time, trouble, and money required to have to drill in that area.

b) in the U.S.- Over all the shift to alternative fuels could be a problem for most people in the U.S.. It would mean that almost 75% of the people in the U.S. would have to have their vehicles altered to fill the need of the alternative sources of fuel, unless that procedure was offered for free, then a lot of people might not be able to afford it.

c) in Europe- Switching to an alternative fuel would not be as bad in Europe, as far as I know they do not rely as heavily on vehicles as us, while we own almost a vehicle per person, they have about 1 vehicle per family, making their need for the fuel less then ours is.

d) in the middle east- The middle east, mainly being china has a huge population, and many vehicles to match it, switching over to an alternative fuel source would be hazardous for them, they have so many vehicles, and people that the change could damage their economy and put many people out of work.

e) on gas prices- Gas prices around the world would drop, there would no longer be a great need for the gas when other sources are readily available. It would make gas cheaper for those people who were not able to switch their vehicles over the alternative gas source.

f) On rural communities-The effect on rural communities would not be as great as it would be on urban communities, because the rural communities would be the ones most likely producing the fuel for the alternative fuel sources and would be making quite a heft sum of money to support them.

g) on urban communities- The impact would be huge on urban communities, mostly because the vehicles in larger cities are busses and taxies, which are the main source of transport, and switching to the new vehicles could put quite a few companies out of business, or help them prosper if they had already switched earlier. But when those companies that couldn't switch went out of business, it would leave a lot of people without transportation to work.