John Scott

Will Automakers Switch to Natural Gas?

Mr. Benson should run for Congress, if he is not already there. "We tried that and it did not work". Not much of an argument is it. The amount of natural gas produced historically is the result of complex inputs. That production has not risen does not mean the gas is not there or that it is uneconomical now or in the future. The USGS estimates that there is more than a 100 year supply based upon current usage. Nat gas prices in Europe are much higher than in North America. At $20/Mcf (double today's North American price), exploration and production would increase dramatically and the cost of driving a mile would be about the same as gasoline at $2.50/gal. As mentioned above, it is 2/3 cleaner than gasoline. And the benefit to the balance of payments would be immense. Sure there are challenges. But the Panama Canal was built; man has walked on the moon; polio was cured; and the Red Sox overcame the curse of Babe Ruth. Let's not give up without giving it our best effort.