Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
In fact that's not true, if higher prices spur people to use energy more efficiently. As a small example, consider the person commuting to work in a large SUV or pickup. Let's be generous, and say they get 20 mpg. If gas is at $3.50/gal, that commute costs them 17.5 cents per mile. If $10/gal gas prompted them to switch to driving a 70 mpg Honda Insight, each mile would cost only 14.3 cents.
And of course if $10 gas prompted them to bike or telecommute, their cost per mile would go to zero.
The data supports this in the larger world. A number of eastern states have implemented a cap and trade system of CO2 emission permits, and have spent the money received from the sale of permits on improving energy efficiency. Result is that even though the cost per KWatt of electricity is slightly higher, the total cost to consumers is lower because they now use less. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/ny...llowances.html |
that may be all well an good for those that live in new york city but for those that live in montana and kansas not so much so