Hour 1: "Clark's Energy Show" We as a country put our future at risk by being foolish about where we stand on energy. That doesn't mean just gasoline for our cars, but also energy for our homes and other belongings. We need to get on the ball with this for the safety of the country. For 25 years, we've ignored this topic and today we're feeling it in our wallets. Today we're going to hear from experts on alternative forms of energy and we're going to hear from callers about their concerns and ideas.
Clark: Is it the oil company's fault we are in this predicament?
Caller 1: Absolutely not...I think the government regulating refineries is one reason. Also, it's a shame we're not going out and looking for more ways to find oil and be domestic with our energy needs.
Clark: The only thing I'd add to what you said is that it's not just an issue of us building refineries. We should have LNG terminals all over the country. We need to build liquid natural gas facilities on the coasts because it gives us competition for natural gas in this country. Number three, we have to look at alternative ways of getting us down the road.
Clark talked with
Rob Del Bueno, an Atlantan who has been driving a car on vegetable grease for more than three years. He is an expert on converting grease, animal fat and other natural products into a fuel that can be used in cars. It's called "biodiesel" and it's the next big wave in fuel efficiency. The fuel is somewhat hard to find but it is available today in most cities. It may take some work on your part, but the end result is beneficial to you and the environment. Other alternatives are sugar and poultry waste, which can be converted into biodiesel. Del Bueno is working on a co-op to get restaurants on board with using the restaurant grease as fuel. The "bio-diesel" used to cost about $3.50 a gallon, but today it's about as much as regular gas. To learn more about this terrific alternative check out Rob's site
vegenergy.com.
Clark: So, what can you do to reduce your dependence on gasoline? First of all, when your car dies, buy a more fuel efficient one. For instance, if your car gets 20 miles per gallon, buy one that gets 30 or more. Some of Clark's recommendations are the Chevy Aveo, the Toyota Yaris, the Nissan Versa and the Honda Fit, all of which get about 40 miles per gallon. So, you can change what you drive. Secondly, you can change how you get places. Carpooling, telecommuting and walking or riding a bike to work are all ways to make a difference. Thirdly, our laws need to change and that means contacting your local reps to tell them what you want. Would you believe that there is a law on the books, stating that taxpayers subsidize the cost of very expensive SUVs that business owners drive. It's a ridiculous tax break that is benefiting the rich and hurting our country. Clark thinks we need to give tax breaks and credits to people who drive fuel efficient cars while levying high taxes on people who drive cars that get less than 20 miles per gallon. That kind of move will also change how the industry builds these cars so they are more fuel efficient.
Caller 2: A lot of the focus is on the cars and making them more efficient. But what a lot lot people forget is that a lot of our infrastructures run off oil. If we can make these facilities more efficient, it would allow more oil to be in the marketplace and it would drive down the prices.
Clark: In the Northeast, people heat their homes and businesses run their factories with imported home heating oil. So we are wasting an enormous amount of money and we're helping people who wish to harm us overseas by using home heating oil. One positive note is that General Electric is building an energy plant in Europe that runs on solar panels. I bet, not too far around the corner, solar will be an alternative for you.
Clark talked with
Dr. Sam Shelton, director of the Strategic Energy Initiative at Georgia Tech in downtown Atlanta. Shelton and his crew have been working for years on developing alternative energy sources and making individuals and companies more energy efficient.
Shelton talked about the viability of wood as an alternative energy source, specifically southern pine wood which is readily available in the Southeast and can easily be converted into wood ethanol. Yet the wood is underused because the industry has moved offshore. Dr. Shelton also said the cost to produce fuel from wood is very low, so he believes there will be a plant producing ethanol in about three years.
The Initiative is also working on an offshore windmill project as a way to produce energy. So, what can individuals do? Shelton said starting to drive hybrids
now is the best thing we can do. It takes about 15 years to replace the current pool of cars out there, so do what you can now!
Go to Hour 2 •
See Clark with his Freeway •
Clark's take on fuel costs •
Clark on home energy costs 
