U.S. Electric Car Dominance Coming: Electric Grid Ready?

The consensus is that electric cars will dominate new vehicle sales in coming decades.

I’m glad. Though I don’t own an automobile and have no plans to buy one, I look forward to breathing cleaner air while walking, bicycling, waiting at bus stops, etc., due to the absence of emissions from vehicle tail pipes.

As mass production of electric vehicles ramps up, their prices will drop. Furthermore, improvements in batteries and chargers will enable the cars to charge faster and to travel further between charges.

Will the U.S. Electric Grid Support 100% Electric Vehicles?

Plans are underway to greatly expand the number of charging stations and to upgrade the electrical grid to accommodate the extra demand.

But concerns raised over whether the United States electric grid is capable of handling the extra load that would occur if 100% of vehicles were electric may be exaggerated. A November 2019 report [1] on the Department of Energy website anticipates the electrical grid providing enough capacity to meet the extra demand that will occur when all (or almost all) autos are electric.

Estimates vary widely on how much making all vehicles electric will increase the load on the electric grid. I’ve seen estimates from 10% to 100%, with about a 25% increase being a common estimate.

With blackouts already occurring sometimes in some places (California, etc.), how will the electric grid accommodate these electric vehicles?

It’s generally agreed that the current electric grid would not accommodate charging all those vehicles at the same time during peak electrical usage. But all electric vehicles would not be charged every day, and to encourage charging them at off-peak times, electric utilities could offer different rates for charging them at different times. A Forbes article [2] claims this would enable the grid to accommodate them. A key is ensuring vehicles primarily charge at off-peak times (maybe while persons sleep overnight and other electric devices are being used less?).

Furthermore, the changeover from gasoline-powered to electric vehicles will take decades. Even if all new cars sold become electric ones in a decade or two, it will likely take another decade or more after that for almost all existing gasoline-powered cars to wear out and be replaced. This allows time for modifications to the electric grid to accommodate the electric vehicles' extra power use.

What About Pollution When Fossil-Fuel Electric Plants Recharge Electric Cars?

In many areas, including Lexington, Kentucky where I live, most electricity generating plants are powered by fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). However, even when fossil-fueled power plants produce the electricity for recharging electric cars, there is less net pollution caused by electric vehicles than by gasoline-powered cars in most areas of the world, including the United States, according to a June 2020 Nature Sustainability article [3].

An EPA webpage [4] dispels many myths about electric vehicles. Among other things, the webpage notes that electric vehicles typically pollute less than gasoline-powered ones even allowing for a fossil-fuel-powered electrical grid and for the energy used to manufacture electric cars' batteries.

Electric Vehicles and Chargers Are Improving

Advances are leading to faster battery charging times, longer driving ranges between charges, and cheaper prices for electric vehicles. These advances will likely accelerate as mass production of electric vehicles ramps up.

In addition to electric cars, increased use of electric buses, trucks, and vans is occurring. More chargers are coming to accommodate them.

Below is a picture that I think I took June 8, 2021 of one of the chargers for electric Lexington, Kentucky city buses.

Though most Lexington city bus service (Lextran) buses are still diesel-powered, there are some diesel-electric hybrid powered, some compressed natural gas powered, and I hope there will soon be an increasing number of electric powered ones.

Even electric 18-wheelers are being built. A March 22, 2022 Colorado Department of Transportation news release [5] announced that electric 18-wheelers would soon be coming to the state, stating that Nikola Tre trucks to be sold in the state would have "a range of up to 350 miles" between charges.

Electric semi-trucks can work out well for short routes according to a Canary Media article [6] and other sources, though battery life doesn’t yet permit use on long routes.

However, efforts are underway to reduce the time to charge electric vehicle batteries. For example, a new charging cable developed at Purdue University [7] may allow cars to be charged in less than five minutes if it lives up to expectations.

Closing Thoughts

As I see it, new electric vehicles are likely to be mass produced and outsell their gasoline-powered competitors within a decade or two. Improvements in battery-life and chargers will enable these new electric vehicles to be recharged as fast as a car gas tank can be filled and to drive as far between recharges as a gasoline-powered car can between fill-ups.

ENDNOTES:

[1] “Summary Report on EVs at Scale and the U.S. Electric Power System”; November 2019; Energy.gov; webpage accessed July 26, 2022; https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/12/f69/GITT%20ISATT%20EVs%20at%20Scale%20Grid%20Summary%20Report%20FINAL%20Nov2019.pdf.

[2] Morris, James; “Electricity Grids Can Handle Electric Vehicles Easily – They Just Need Proper Management”; Forbes; July 13, 2021; webpage accessed July 25, 2022; https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmorris/2021/11/13/electricity-grids-can-handle-electric-vehicles-easily--they-just-need-proper-management/?sh=4b8a09a57862.

[3] Knobloch, Florian; Hanssen, Steef V.; Lam, Aileen; Pollitt, Hector; Salas, Pablo; Chewpreechah, Unada; Huijbregts, Mark A. J.; and Mercure, Jean-Francois; “Net emission reductions from electric cars and heat pumps in 59 world regions over time”; Nature Sustainability; June 2020; Vol. 3, pages 437-447; webpage accessed July 25, 2022; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-0488-7.epdf?shared_access_token=4HVrFlvKvrUrkik37QDrHNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OMBHrNGD6k2npei17x4aWW28rGsQX6mDMk4uVBOBG-qCojvkQyjh434dPvXp7ULPURDTxD_zdRyr5LDQB18mR-o3_0tqT_xsIWbcYUw5V5vQ%3D%3D.

[4] “Electric Vehicle Myths”; United States Environmental Protection Agency; last updated June 30, 2022; webpage accessed July 26, 2022; https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths.

[5] “Colorado Welcomes Arrival of New Zero-Emissions Big Rigs”; Colorado Department of Transportation; news release; March 22, 2022; webpage accessed July 26, 2022; https://www.codot.gov/news/2022/march/colorado-welcomes-arrival-of-zero-emissions-big-rigs.

[6] “Electric heavy-duty trucks are hitting the roads in California and beyond”; Canary Media; May 17, 2022; webpage accessed July 26, 2022; https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/electric-heavy-duty-trucks-are-hitting-the-roads-in-california-and-beyond.

[7] “Electric vehicles could fully recharge in under 5 minutes with new charging station cable design”; Purdue University; November 10, 2021; webpage accessed July 26, 2022; https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q4/electric-vehicles-could-fully-recharge-in-under-5-minutes-with-new-charging-station-cable-design.html

Abortion: What About Young Children Becoming Pregnant?

The June 24th, 2022 United States Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade has led to much discussion. One topic is “What about young kids who become pregnant in states where virtually all abortion is banned?”

The Supreme Court builiding is pictured below in a June 21, 2019 photo.

The issue got national attention after a pregnant 10-year-old Ohio girl denied an abortion in her state went to Indiana to obtain one, as reported on numerous news websites, including the Columbus Dispatch.[1]

Few Abortions Involve Moms Under Age 15

First of all, while pro-choice persons emphasize cases like this 10-year-old girl’s situation, abortions (and pregnancies) are rare among young children. Only 0.2% of abortions in 2019 involved persons under age 15 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[2]

The 0.2% figure means that only 1 out of every 500 abortions involved a mother under age 15. Most of those children were likely teenagers ages 13-14, not 10-year-olds.

Seek to Prevent and Report Sexual Abuse

Secondly, ideally, all pregnancies among children would be prevented. If the child doesn’t get pregnant, neither abortion nor an unwanted child come about.

Teaching the importance of sexual abstinence to children, and getting them to quickly report cases of sexual abuse to a trusted adult could go a long way toward achieving this.

Voluntary sexual activity of children with peers is harmful and needs to be prevented. Rape and sexual abuse of children by adults and older children is a terrible tragedy.

Plan B Is an Alternative

For those rare cases when a young child is raped, Plan B or the morning-after pill, is still legal despite the United States Supreme Court ruling, as reported by USA Today[3] and numerous other news sources. It is effective taken within three days after intercourse.

But the child needs to quickly report the rape to a responsible, trusted adult to obtain treatment. Understandably, this isn’t always easy, especially if the guilty party is an adult relative and the child is young.

Obviously, preventing abuse of children is key and eliminates the pregnancies and the desire for abortions. If ardent pro-choice (and pro-life) individuals focused as much on sexual abstinence, sex education, and creating a safe environment for children to report abuse, as they do on abortion, we might virtually eliminate child pregnancies.

Young Moms, Even a 5-Year-Old Who Gave Birth

Young children who become pregnant, elect to carry their unborn child to term, and give birth, do face more health risks than older mothers. Children’s babies face higher health risks than those born to older moms too. But quality prenatal care reduces the risks for both moms and babies.

Many young children do give birth safely to healthy babies. LiveScience [4] reported in 2011 that “twelve-year-old mothers aren’t unusual in some parts of the world.”

Indeed, the mental and emotional health risks are probably greater than the physical ones to young moms. Most young mothers physically give birth safely, especially if they get good prenatal care.

But children typically are not mentally, emotionally, and financially able to be parents. It would be unfair to expect them to be.

Preventing rape and sexual abuse are keys. Furthermore, since it isn’t reasonable to expect a child to be a parent, adoption is the best choice for babies of children.

The youngest verified age of giving birth is that of Lina Medina, as reported by numerous news sources. She was only 5 years old when she gave birth in May 1939. Wow!

She went through precocious puberty (early puberty), was raped, and gave birth via Cesarean section. You can read more about her case in Time,[5] The Sun,[6] WomenintheWorld.org,[7] and numerous other news sources. Snopes.com[8] verified her story as true.

Prevent Unwanted Pregnancies

I’m not a medical professional, so I can’t give any medical advice. But regarding abortion, I think our number one goal is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Even pro-choice persons prefer avoiding the pain, expense, and health risk of an abortion.

In cases where undesired pregnancies occur, carrying the baby to term and then giving it up for adoption is a wonderful option.

Safely Dropping Off Unwanted Newborns

Safe Haven Baby Boxes[9] “staffs a 24-hour hotline (1-866-99BABY1)” that persons can phone about “safely surrendering their baby.” As a last resort, they also have drop-off boxes in many locations where moms can “safely, securely, and anonymously surrender” their newborn baby. According to the website the boxes are in the exterior walls of certain fire stations and hospitals.

All fifty states have safe haven laws to encourage dropping off newborns at a safe place according to information on ChildWelfare.gov,[10] and other sources. The website ChildWelfare.gov[10] provides details, including information about what are considered safe locations in various states.

Abortion Is Just a Symptom of the Underlying Problem

Abortion is just a symptom of the underlying problem of selfish sexual lust. Pro-life persons, including me, typically don’t just support life for the unborn baby.

We also usually advocate eliminating the underlying problems of selfish sexual promiscuity, supporting quality prenatal care, and making adoption available as an option for parents unable to care for a newborn child.

Closing Thoughts

Relatively few young children become pregnant. But there are still far too many. Personally, I think even age 15-19 is too young to take on the mental, emotional, and spiritual task of parenting in most cases. We need to do a better job of preventing such sexual intercourse, whether consensual with peers or not.

But in cases where a young person becomes pregnant, I think it is wrong to compound the problem by murdering the unborn baby. Many young moms choose life voluntarily. Making quality prenatal care available, including counseling and support for sexual abuse victims, is important and can help make life better for moms and babies, as can adoption.

The physical health risks young moms face are greater than those of moms a few years older, but they pale compared to the mental, emotional, and spiritual problems faced by pregnant children. Let’s all seek to unite to help prevent children’s pregnancies, and when they occur to help the children and their unborn babies cope effectively. Do you agree?

ENDNOTES:

[1] Rudavsky, Shari and Fradette, Rachel; “As Ohio restricts abortions, 10-year-old girl travels to Indiana for procedure”; accessed on The Columbus Dispatch website (though the byline states the writers are with the Indianapolis Star); July 1, 2022; updated July 5, 2022; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/07/01/ohio-girl-10-among-patients-going-indiana-abortion/7788415001/

[2] Kortsmit, Katherine, PhD; Mandel, Michele G.; Reeves, Jennifer A., MD; Clark, Elizabeth, MD; Pagano, H. Pamela, DrPH; Nguyen, Antoinette, MD; Petersen, Emily E., MD; Maura K. Whiteman, PhD; “Abortion Surveillance—United States, 2019; Morbidity and Mortality Report, Surveillance Summaries/November 26, 2021/70(9):1-29; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website; webpage accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/ss/ss7009a1.htm#T3_down

[3] Grantham-Philips, Wyatte; “Can I still Buy Plan B? Where can I get it? What to know after SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade”; USA Today; June 25, 2022; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/06/24/plan-b-what-you-need-know/7567434001/

[4] “What’s the Youngest Age at Which a Woman Can Give Birth?”; LiveScience.com; March 30, 2011; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://www.livescience.com/33170-youngest-age-give-birth-pregnancy.html

[5] “Little Mother”; Time, May 29, 1939, No. 22, pages 57-58; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://time.com/vault/issue/1939-05-29/page/57/

[6] Hodge, Mark; “Child Mother: Harrowing Story of youngest mum ever who was just 5 & had to have c-section as she was too small to give birth”; The Sun; November 7, 2021, updated November 8, 2021; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16552270/youngest-mum-ever-lina-medina-peru/

[7] Bhavya; “Lina Medina: The Youngest Mother in the World”; Women in the World; January 6, 2022; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://womenintheworld.org/lina-medina-the-youngest-mother-in-the-world/

[8] Mikkelson, David; “Was the World’s Youngest Mother Only 5 Years Old?”; Snopes.com; July 21, 2004; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/youngest-mother/

[9] “Safe Haven Baby Boxes”; Safe Haven Baby Boxes; webpage accessed July 6, 2022; https://shbb.org/

[10] “Infant Safe Haven Laws”; webpage accessed July 7, 2022; https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/safehaven.pdf

Ban Forever Tobacco and Alcoholic Drink Sales to U.S. Kids Born in 2003 or Later

Does permanently banning tobacco or alcoholic beverage sales to persons seem radical? One U.S. town has already passed legislation to forever ban cigarette purchases by persons born in 2000 or later, as discussed later in this article.

We know tobacco and alcoholic beverages are harmful. Indeed, the majority of current smokers want to quit to save money and/or improve their health. Furthermore, new studies indicate that even moderate alcoholic beverage consumption is harmful, and urge abstinence.

Banning tobacco and alcoholic beverage use forever for persons born after a certain date is one way to virtually eliminate their use by children and the next generation of adults.

I support the United States passing legislation to prevent persons born in 2003 or later from ever purchasing (or consuming) tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alcoholic beverages, assuming legislation can be enacted during 2022 or 2023.

A permanent ban on cigarette purchases for persons born January 1st, 2000 or later already exists in one town, Brookline, Massachusetts.

Brookline, Massachusetts Tobacco Law

The town of Brookline, Massachusetts has passed and begun enforcing a law prohibiting persons born January 1st, 2000 or later from ever purchasing tobacco according to an article by Jon Berrick posted on BMJ.com [1]. Brookline’s ordinance is also discussed in a Time.com [2] article and many others.

At least two nations are considering similar laws.

New Zealand and Denmark Proposed Tobacco Laws

The entire nations of New Zealand and Denmark are considering legislation to permanently ban young persons from using tobacco.

Health officials in New Zealand are urging that nation to enact legislation that would basically prohibit persons age 14 or younger as of a certain year from ever being able to legally purchase cigarettes according to numerous articles, such as these linked to on NPR [3], NBCNews [4], and the Associated Press [5]. Denmark is considering legislation that would ban persons born in 2010 or later from ever smoking according to articles on TheDailyMail website [6], and many others. A VapingPost.com [7] piece. noted that an EU Directive would need changed to permit such legislation to take effect.

Reasons for Banning Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages

The harmful effects of using tobacco products and consuming alcoholic beverages are well documented.

Tobacco is a leading cause of lung cancer and many other diseases. Surveys indicate that the majority of current smokers would like to quit. Indeed, millions have quit in recent years. Sadly, a large percentage of poor persons spend much of their limited income on tobacco products. Indeed, if millions of SNAP (food stamp) recipients who smoke quit smoking, they could probably buy their own food with the money saved, lower their medical costs (and Medicaid costs) and likely live happier, healthier, longer lives, too.

Alcohol use contributes to automobile accidents, liver disease, brain damage, several types of cancer, and numerous other problems. You may have read or heard that consuming alcoholic beverages in moderation has benefits that offset negative effects. Recent studies indicate otherwise.

A World Heart Federation policy brief [8] urges persons not to drink alcoholic beverages at all. It specifically urges abstinence for persons with “chronic illnesses.” The same brief states that even for “adults with no underlying health conditions” that “there are no safe recommended levels of alcohol consumption.” An Oxford study reported about on Forbes.com [9] is quoted as including the words “No safe dose of alcohol for the brain was found.”

Final Thoughts

Banning tobacco and alcoholic beverage sales (and consumption) forever to persons born in 2003 or later can improve the health of this generation and save them money, without impacting current smokers or drinkers.

Side benefits may include lower Medicaid expenses, fewer disability claims, and increased work productivity. There will even be a significant reduction in trash from cigarette butts and packages, as well as beer containers. We’ll also have fewer fires from discarded cigarettes and fewer cuts from broken glass beverage containers. It will be great not to see litter like the three cigarette butts on a sidewalk in Phoenix Park here in Lexington, Kentucky shown in the May 18, 2022 photograph below.

Tobacco and alcoholic beverage companies will protest this disruption to their sales. But my guess is that the majority of persons will support it. What do you think?

ENDNOTES:

(1) Berrick, Jon; “U.S.: Brookline Introduces Tobacco-Free Generation Law”; BMJ; May 2022, Vol. 31, No. 3, page 399-400; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/31/3/399.full.pdf

(2) Ducharme, Jamie; “How One Massachusetts Town Could Shape the Future of Tobacco”; Time.com; December 9, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://time.com/6126252/brookline-tobacco-free-generation-law/

(3) Sullivan, Becky; “New Zealand’s unique cigarette ban may be model for other countries”; NPR; December 15, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.npr.org/2021/12/15/1064212737/new-zealands-cigarette-ban-model

(4) Chuck, Elizabeth and Stoakes, Emanuel; “ ‘long overdue’ New Zealand models generational tobacco purchasing ban on a U.S. suburb”; NBCNews; December 24, 2021, updated December 29, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-wants-smoking-ban-future-generations-us-town-already-one-rcna9757

(5) Perry, Nick; “New Zealand’s plan to end smoking: A lifetime ban for youth”; AP News; Dec. 9, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://apnews.com/article/business-health-new-zealand-smoking-wellington-7e5393f99502e89959181031d614aa85

(6) McLaughlin, Charlotte; “Denmark considers BANNING cigarettes by ensuring nobody born after 2010 will ever be able to buy them”; DailyMail; March 15, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10616415/Denmark-considers-BANNING-cigarettes-ensuring-born-2010-allowed-buy-them.html

(7) Caruana, Diane; “EU Directive Comes in the Way of Danish Government’s Planned Tobacco Ban”; VapingPost.com; April 18, 2022, webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.vapingpost.com/2022/04/18/eu-directive-comes-in-the-way-of-danish-governments-planned-tobacco-ban/#:~:text=If%20the%20bill%20becomes%20law,born%20in%202010%20turn%2018

(8) “The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures”: A World Health Federation Policy Brief”; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/WHF-Policy-Brief-Alcohol.pdf

(9) Ramirez, Elva; “Study: No Amount of Drinking Alchol Is Safe for Brain Health”; June 1, 2021; Forbes.com; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2021/06/01/study-no-amount-of-drinking-alcohol-is-safe-for-brain-health/?sh=538a64687eaa

Raise U.S. Gasoline Taxes; Expand Mass Transit; Cut Gas Use

Why raise gasoline taxes? Many advocate suspending gasoline taxes while gas prices remain high in the U.S. I sympathize with the good intentions. Yet, I urge the opposite. Raise gas taxes.

The same supply and demand issues that led oil companies to increase prices and earn immense profits can be used to benefit the government and U.S. citizens.

Some Facts

Many oil companies earned huge profits in the first quarter of 2022 according to a Guardian article [1] and other sources. The Saudi Arabian company Saudi Aramco became “the world’s most valuable company” after its huge quarterly profits according to the Associated Press [2] and other news sources.

Retail gasoline prices in the United States have increased substantially because the supply is down and demand is high. Three gas stations near my Lexington, Kentucky, apartment on May 9th, 2022, advertised gas at the highest prices I've ever seen there: $4.29 per gallon for regular unleaded and $5.29 per gallon for diesel fuel, as shown in pictures of their signs.

Today, May 17th, 2022, AAA [3] reported a record high national average gasoline price of $4.523 per gallon, with diesel over $1 per gallon more.

Supply and Demand

Currently the supply of gasoline is down a bit (due to war in Ukraine, limited production by OPEC and other countries including the U.S., etc.). Demand remains high.

Until supply increases, persons need to reduce purchases. If it’s not done voluntarily, it will be done via (1) price increases, (2) rationing, or (3) stations running out of gas.

Maybe the best free market approach is to increase prices. Furthermore, instead of just oil companies raising prices to cut demand, I support raising gasoline taxes to increase federal tax revenue.

The higher taxes and thus higher retail gasoline prices, will lead to a decrease in demand. Decreased demand can lead oil companies to lower their prices.

Though for simplicity, I refer only to the gasoline tax, I support raising the tax on diesel fuel as well.

More Reasons Why Increasing the Gasoline Tax Makes Sense

Many problems with infrastructure have been mentioned in recent years. Bridges and roads need much maintenance and repair. In some areas we need new construction.

Furthermore, mass transit in the United States pales in comparison to the transit systems in several other countries. It could be partially funded by fuel tax increases.

The federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon (and the diesel tax of 24.4 cents per gallon) have not increased since October 1, 1997 according to Table FE-1A on a Federal Highway Administration webpage [4]. Furthermore, the federal gasoline tax in the United States is much lower than that in many other countries, as shown on numerous websites. Indeed, almost all countries shown in a chart on CarScoops.com [5] have higher gasoline taxes than the U.S.

A gasoline tax increase could pay for much needed infrastructure repair. Furthermore, if part of the tax revenue is used to support mass transit (city and intercity bus systems, subways, intercity rail travel, air travel, etc.), it could encourage more people to use mass transit, thus reducing traffic congestion. Adding more sidewalks and bike lanes/paths would likely increase pedestrian and bicycle travel too.

It could be great if persons:

• use mass transit more,

• carpool more with trusted friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers, etc.,

• bicycle more,

• walk more,

• and avoid unnecessary trips.

Fewer cars traveling fewer miles would lead to less pollution (as well as less wear-and-tear on highways). The increased exercise could help make us healthier.

Eventually we will run out of oil. But if we dramatically reduce our consumption of it now, it will be better for the environment. The production, transportation, and consumption of oil create a lot of pollution.

In addition, the huge production of oil from oil shale in recent years adds new environmental risks. The fracking process that is frequently used in producing oil from oil shale produces numerous small earthquakes and some damaging earthquakes, as noted by the USGS [6] and other sources.

Electric vehicles may be an alternative to gas and diesel-powered vehicles. But it will be at least a few years before electric vehicles are mass produced at affordable prices—and an electric grid supported by renewable energy sources adequate to recharge them exists.

Closing Thoughts

Tax increases are typically not popular with the public. But, we currently have a huge federal budget deficit. Furthermore, the deficit is expected to get worse due to infrastructure needs, increasing costs of Social Security and health care (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) and other expenses.

Our transportation system needs major repairs according to many (most?) people. Therefore, it seems logical to get additional funding for fixing problems. Increasing taxes on gasoline (and diesel fuel) can help fund maintenance of highways and bridges.

A tax hike will hurt drivers, especially persons like truck drivers who travel thousands of miles annually in vehicles that get relatively poor fuel efficiency. But these drivers are already being impacted by current high prices. Better to have price hikes benefit the government and pay for needed projects for citizens than fill the coffers of oil companies.

Increasing taxes on gas and diesel fuels makes sense to me. The costs of maintaining and building highways have increased substantially since the tax was last increased in 1997. To generate revenue and to decrease demand for gasoline, the tax increase needs to be a large one. At least a 50 cents-per-gallon figure seems reasonable to me. Over the long term, I’d even support a significantly larger increase. Do you agree?

NOTE:

This article is adapted and updated from articles the author submitted to other websites in past years about raising the U.S. tax on gasoline.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Milman, Oliver; “Largest oil and gas producers made close to $100bn in first quarter of 2022”; Guardian; May 13, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/13/oil-gas-producers-first-quarter-2022-profits

(2)Debre, Isabel; “Saudi oil giant Aramco’s first-quarter profits soar 80%”; Associated Press; May 15, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-arab-emirates-saudi-arabian-oil-co-44809d786ae32adc178684a5ce3c6837

(3) “National Average Gas Prices”; AAA; May 17th, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://gasprices.aaa.com/

(4) “Federal Tax Rates on Motor Fuels and Lubricating Oil (1)” November 2021; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration; page last modified November 16, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2020/fe101a.cfm

(5) Chilton, Chris; “Which Countries Pay the Most and Least Tax on Their Gas”; CarScoops.com; April 10, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.carscoops.com/2022/04/which-countries-pay-the-most-and-least-tax-on-their-gas/

(6) “Does the production of oil and gas from shares cause earthquakes? If so, how are the earthquakes related to these operations?”; USGS; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/does-production-oil-and-gas-shales-cause-earthquakes-if-so-how-are-earthquakes-related-these#:~:text=Fracking%20intentionally%20causes%20small%20earthquakes,a%20M4%20earthquake%20in%20Texas.

Gasoline Prices at Record High: Tips and Perspective

Yes, the U.S. has record high gas prices. The American Automobile Association[1] reported today, May 10th, 2022, that national gasoline prices have hit a record high.

Near where I live in Lexington, Kentucky, three gasoline stations all advertised regular unleaded gasoline for $4.29 a gallon and diesel fuel for $5.29 a gallon yesterday afternoon, May 9, 2022. See the photos of their signs.

That’s the highest price I’ve ever seen here in Lexington, Kentucky. Nationwide, the price is even higher according to the AAA figures.

Below I offer some suggestions for coping with gas prices and some perspective on them. .

Coping With the Prices

Ways to cope with the prices include:

* Eliminate or reduce unnecessary trips just for pleasure.

* Order deliveries of products instead of driving to stores; many supermarkets even offer free delivery for orders over a certain dollar amount.

* Combine trips to reduce the low efficiency car warmup period and to reduce driving over the same territory unnecessarily.

* Carpool with trustworthy coworkers, relatives, friends, neighbors, etc.

* Walk and/or bicycle when feasible.

* Use buses, passenger trains, trolleys, subways, etc., when and where feasible.

Some Perspective on the Prices.

1. Adjusted for inflation U.S. gasoline prices are not at record levels.

For example, adjusted for inflation, gas prices were much higher in 2008 when the price reached over $4 a gallon nationally and here in Lexington. Adjusted for inflation, that would be a price of over $5 a gallon now, according to a piece posted on the Washington Post [2] website last December, as well as other sources.

2. It’s better to pay high prices for gas than to not be able to buy it at all.

Back in the 1970s during the Middle East oil embargo many U.S. gasoline stations sold out of gas and others rationed it. Decreases in the supply and/or increases in the demand could lead to that again.

Increasing prices is one way to decrease demand so the supply doesn’t run out. When supply is limited at least one of three things typically happens: (1) prices rise, (2) purchases are rationed, or (3) supplies sell out. That’s a basic economic reality.

3. Temporarily suspending gasoline taxes would be wrong.

Though many state and federal officials are calling for suspending the federal gas tax and/or state taxes during this time of high prices, that makes little economic sense in some ways.

First of all, it wouldn’t stop oil companies from raising prices again to offset the price decrease resulting from elimination of the tax in order to make the supply-demand levels match (see #2 above).

Second, it would reduce federal revenue, adding to the government's huge budget deficit. It might actually be better to raise the tax to discourage consumption and increase revenue to the government for highway construction/maintenance, so the government gets the money instead of wealthy oil companies. Federal gasoline taxes haven’t increased since the 1990s according to the U.S. Department of Transportation [3] and other sources, while many other prices has increased, including the cost of maintaining bridges and roads.

4. Other prices are going up to.

Some other price hikes are larger than gasoline’s. Perhaps one reason we focus on gas prices if that they are typically posted prominently in large letters at service stations.

5. Diesel prices have increased more than gasoline.

This will lead to higher shipping costs for items delivered by vehicles using diesel fuel, costs that will likely be passed on to consumers. But recognize that the diesel fuel cost is only one component in the cost of goods sold by companies. Fuel prices aren't the only reason for inflation in the costs of products at the retail level. Shortages of truck drivers, warehouse workers, factory workers, etc., as well as COVID-19 lockdowns, and extra spending from stimulus checks are all factors. And gas-powered car drivers can sympathize with the diesel truck drivers while appreciating that gas prices aren’t increasing as much.

6.. Gas prices are much higher in many other countries of the world than in the United States as noted by the website GlobalPetrolPrices [4], and other sources. This is due to various reasons, including higher taxes in many other countries.

7 In Ukraine and some other parts of the world, residents face life-and-death problems much more severe than high gas prices. Ideally, we need to look at the big picture rather than selfishly focusing on our own issues.

Final Thoughts

Please seek to reduce unnecessary driving. Also, seek to put gas prices in perspective. They’re not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.

Focusing on the positive can help avoid anger issues, blood pressure increases, and other health problems that can be far worse than the gas price increases.

Let’s seek to enjoy our blessings. For me those blessings include not owning a car with its various expenses (purchase price, gas, maintenance, repair, insurance, parking, etc.). I walk, bicycle, and use mass transit. Maybe many or at least some of you can too?

ENDNOTES:

1. “AAA Gas Prices”; webpage accessed May 10, 2022; https://gasprices.aaa.com/

2. Borenstein, Severin; “Gas prices aren't actually all that high”; Washington Post; December 2, 2021; webpage accessed May 10, 2022 https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/02/gas-prices-are-not-out-control/

3. “Federal Tax Rates on Motor Fuels and Lubricating Oil (1)”; November 2021; U.S. Department of Transportation; webpage accessed May 10, 2022; https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2020/fe101a.cfm

4. “Gas Prices, 02-May-2022”; GlobalPetrolPrices.com; webpage accessed May 10, 2022; https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

Raise to 25 Minimum Age for Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Use in U.S.: Lower Legal BAC Max to 0.05%

The harmful effects of alcohol abuse and tobacco use are well known. A large percentage of those abusing them are young persons under age 25.

Most abusers of these products began using them before the age of 21 and certainly well before the age of 25. .

Human Brains Are Not Fully Developed Until Age 24 or 25
One reason for the poor judgment that leads to alcohol abuse among young persons is that persons’ brains are not fully developed until their mid20s. According to the Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership [1], “there is clear evidence that the brain does not mature fully until about age 24.”

“The rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25 or so” according to the University of Rochester Medical Center [2].

Raising the minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages to age 25 and raising the minimum age for tobacco use to age 25 would benefit young people enormously. This includes raising the age for using e-cigarettes to 25. Using e-cigarettes, also called vaping, is also very harmful, as noted numerous sources, including the CDC in “Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults [3].”

Alcohol abuse is high among college students, who are primarily under age 25. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [4] cites a national study as finding “almost 53 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month and about 33 percent engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame.” .

Death, assaults, sexual assaults, and academic problems are some of the problems alcohol abuse among college students leads to according to collegedrinkingprevention.gov [5], citing studies linked to in its article.

Passing and enforcing a minimum age limit of 25 would stop a lot of college student alcohol abuse. If effectively enforced, it could also eliminate alcohol abuse by high school students as well as by high-school dropouts in their teens and early twenties.

Raising the minimum age for consuming tobacco and alcoholic beverages could do enormous good. But additional benefits can come from reducing the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration to 0.05% from the current 0.08% limit in the United States. .

Lower the Maximum Legal BAC to 0.05%
Negative effects of alcoholic beverages occur well below 0.08%, including negative impacts on driving, as reported by Michigan Medicine [6] and ePermitTest [7], as well as numerous other sources.

Many countries already have a BAC maximum limit of 0.05% or less including Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, as noted by various sources, including RUPissed.com [8] and drinkdriving.org [9].

Litter Is a Side Issue
In addition to the health risks from alcohol and tobacco use itself, one of the side problems is the litter generated by them. Studies indicate that cigarette butts are one of the most common items among litter. [10] The picture below shows cigarette butts beside a sidewalk along Virginia Avenue here in Lexington, Kentucky on September 28th, 2021.

Furthermore, empty cigarette packages and alcoholic beverage containers are high on the list of litter too. I know I often see smoldering cigarette butts on the sidewalk or ground, as well as empty cigarette packages and alcoholic beverage containers--often broken beer bottles. Smoldering cigarette butts sometimes start fires. Broken glass bottles can cut persons or tires on vehicles.

Raising the age to begin consuming such products and effectively enforcing the age limit could reduce this litter, and thus reduce the accompanying risks of fires and cuts caused by the poor judgment of individuals.

Closing Thoughts
Raising the minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages and using tobacco to 25 might prevent persons from ever starting to consume alcoholic beverages or use tobacco products. By age 25 the more-fully-developed brains and better judgment of young persons might lead them to conclude that the risks of using such products are not worth it. I certainly hope so.

ENDNOTES:

[1] “Content: Brain Maturation is Complete at About 24 Years of Age”; The Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership; https://sites.duke.edu/apep/module-3-alcohol-cell-suicide-and-the-adolescent-brain/content-brain-maturation-is-complete-at-about-24-years-of-age/

[2] “Understanding the Teen Brain”; University of Rochester Medical Center; https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051

[3] “Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; webpage last reviewed August 25th, 2021; https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

[4] “College Drinking”; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; The quote I took from the article is referenced by an endnote in that article to the SAMSHA article cited below from their footnote. [SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Statistics and Quality. 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 6.21B—Types of Illicit Drug, Tobacco Product, and Alcohol Use in Past Month among Persons Aged 18 to 22, by College Enrollment Status and Gender: Percentages, 2018 and 2019. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29394/NSDUHDetailedTabs2019/NSDUHDetTabsSect6pe2019.htm#tab6-21b. Accessed January 11, 2021.] That date accessed is the date the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism accessed the SAMSHA article. It was September 2021 when I accessed it via the link from the website below. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking

[5] “College Drinking—Facts for Parents”; CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov; https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/parentsandstudents/parents/FactSheets/ParentFactSheet.aspx

[6] Uren, Brad, M.D.; “How Alcohol Impairs Your Ability to Drive”; Michigan Health; July 29, 2016; https://healthblog.uofmhealh.org/wellness-prevention/how-alcohol-impairs-your-ability-to-drive

[7] “The Effects of Alcohol on Your Driving Skills: Minimizing Driving Risks”; ePermitTest; updated November 21, 2020; https://www.epermittest.com/drivers-education/effects-alcohol-your-driving-skills

[8] Blood Alcohol Content Driving Limits By Country”; RUPissed; https://www.rupissed.com/blood_alcohol_limits.html

[9] “International BAC (blood alcohol concentration) Limits”; DrinkDriving.org; https://www.drinkdriving.org/worldwide_drink_driving_limits.php

[10] “Tobacco and the Environment”; truthinitiative.org; https://truthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/media/files/2021/03/Truth_Environment%20FactSheet%20Update%202021_final_030821.pdf

NOTE: This article was last revised on September 29th, 2021.

Solar Energy, Including Solar Cars, May Be the Way of the Future

I envision solar energy as the way of the future. I even expect the majority of cars to be solar-powered.

I admit that I may be dreaming. But there seems to be increasing support for solar power, which is becoming more practical.

What About Fossil Fuels?
Use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline is likely to decline dramatically in coming years. Indeed, their use is already declining. One reason: the pollution incurred by their production, transportation, and consumption. Another reason: their limited supply.

What About Alternatives to Fossil Fuels Other Than Solar Energy?
Solar energy is not the only alternative fuel source that can replace fossil fuels. Nuclear energy, wind power, and hydroelectric power are also in use and being considered for expanded use.

But nuclear energy is arguably much more dangerous than other fuel sources, including fossil fuels. Past accidents like the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine , and the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan that followed an earthquake are examples. The need to store radioactive nuclear waste may be an even larger problem--a huge one. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission states “the only way radioactive waste finally becomes harmless is through decay, which for high-level wastes can take hundreds of thousands of years.”

Wind power requires turbines that take up a lot of space and kill enormous numbers of birds. Furthermore, they only work when the wind is blowing. Some areas seldom receive significant winds.

Hydroelectric power is useful in certain areas. For example, Norway generates most of its electricity this way. But relatively few places seem to have water resources suitable for safely producing hydroelectric power in large quantities. Altering water flow for electricity generation affects the environment, droughts impact water availability, and some areas lack much water to start with.

How About Solar Energy?
The sun offers an enormous potential amount of energy that can be used for solar-power. The cost of solar panels has dropped enormously in recent years. Economies of scale can lead to further huge decreases in upcoming years. And solar power is already price-competitive with other energy sources in some areas.

A weakness of solar energy is that it doesn’t work at night when the sun isn’t shining. During times like the twilight before dawn in the photo taken the morning of September 7th, 2021 of part of the Lexington, Kentucky skyline below, solar power would not be generated. And the electric lines in the photo, like others in Lexington, are powered entirely or almost entirely by fossil fuels, which remain the #1 source of energy generation here in Kentucky.