 April 23, 2007 Update to friends Warning from the U.S. government The US Government Accountability Office issued a strongly-worded overview of the state of global oil supply titled "Crude Oil: Uncertainty about future oil supply." The 82-page report holds that "the prospect of a peak in oil production presents problems of global proportion whose consequences will depend critically on our preparedness." The report compares the expected economic results of sharply increased oil prices to the two periods of oil supply shocks in 1973 and in 1980, pointing out that in the two previous cases, the causes of reduced supply of oil were political and temporary, and were also short-lived. The report notes that an oil shortage caused by technical reasons rather than political decisions would not be so easily solved, and would not only be permanent, but would worsen year by year. The reports highlights the importance of developing a strategy for addressing decline in oil production. Iran rakes in profits The political tensions stemming from Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines on March 23 were the prime catalyst that moved crude prices up by almost four dollars per barrel. Each dollar that crude oil moves up in price yields an additional $4.2 million in daily revenue for Iran. Altogether the crisis garnered Iranian coffers an extra $200 million, a nice little windfall for the world's fourth-largest oil producer which thumbs its nose at the U.S. and U.N. on nukes and publicly declares a wish to see Israel "wiped off the map". One can only imagine how much money Iran could have made had the crisis lasted as long as it did 28 years ago: 444 days. If the Iranians learned something from their recent provocation it is that bad behavior literally pays off. Set America Free in Congress
Courtesy of our Coalition member Plug in America, every senator and congressman is receiving a complementary copy of the book Plug-in Hybrids - The Cars That Will Recharge America and a DVD of the movie Who Killed the Electric Car. We hope that after reading the book and watching the film members of Congress will understand the strategic imperative of the use of electricity, only 2% of which is generated from oil, in the transportation sector and lend their support to legislation that does encourages this like the bipartisan bicameral DRIVE Act. Opinion poll on U.S. imported oil dependence and domestic alternative fuel production In a recent poll conducted by Zogby nearly three quarters of Americans of all ages and political affiliations said that reducing dependence on foreign oil should be a high priority. The majority of those surveyed supported rapid expansion of U.S. production of alternative fuels and federal energy programs supporting alternative fuels.  Fuel choice speeds up overseas - how about here in the U.S.? According to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association 83% of domestic vehicle sales in Brazil this year will be flex fuel cars, vehicles that give drivers a choice of filling up with gasoline or alcohol and cost automakers less than $100 extra to make than gasoline only cars. Today, GM makes 100% of the cars it sells in Brazil flex fuel. The CEOs of the Big Three automakers recently reiterated to President Bush their committment to make 50% of their new cars flex fuel vehicles by 2012 - faster and bolder please! Make it a daily habit Bookmark Notes&Comments, the Set America Free Coalition's blog (please note: we changed the link to the blog so if you have an old bookmark please update it.) Events Set America Free Coalition members have been speaking across the country spreading the message on the link between oil dependence and national security and what we can do about it. Here's a sampling of recent events: Anne Korin appeared before groups in Palm Beach, Denver, Houston, Washington, Reading PA, San Francisco and New York. Gal Luft spoke at Tufts University, Santa Barbara, Princeton, Livingstone and Metro Park NJ. He also appeared abroad before groups in Israel and Switzerland. He and another Set America Free member, Senator Tom Daschle, appeared last week at the PODER Forum in Miami. March 12: Set America Free hosted Jewish leaders in Washington. March 22: Jim Woolsey briefed the Edison Electric Institute's Electric Transportation CEO Taskforce. March 24: Robert McFarlane gave a keynote address at the Energy Summit in Denver. March 27: Anne Korin briefed the Committee on the Present Danger. March 29: Jim Woolsey spoke at Yale University about "Energy, Security and the Long War of the 21st Century." April 10-12: Orson Swindle, Anne Korin and Gal Luft, spoke at the Federal Trade Commission's conference: Energy Markets in the 21 Century. Upcoming events On May 7, Set America Free will cosponsor with the Discovery Institute and Microsoft a conference titled: Jump Start to a Secure, Clean Energy Future featuring many plug-in hybrid advocates including Set America Free members Anne Korin, Gal Luft, Felix Kramer and Jerome Ringo. If you haven't already registered there's still time - we'd love to see you at the Microsoft Executive Conference Center. To register online click here. Primary Energy '08 In order to elevate the debate on energy security in the coming presidential election Set America Free is proud to announce the launch of a speakers' series in which 2008 presidential candidates will be invited to present their energy agenda. More details to follow. Calling local activists We're taking the message of oil savings across the country and we need your help. The Set America Free Coalition is offering minigrants for local activists with good ideas that can save oil in their communities. Click here to read about the program. 
Order your Set America Free t-shirt today! If you'd rather send a check, please click here for instructions. Missed a Set America Free update? Catch up here. Press clippings THE SET AMERICA FREE COALITION brings together prominent individuals and non-profit organizations concerned about the security and economic implications of America's growing dependence on foreign oil. The coalition, organized by the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS), promotes a blueprint which spells out practical ways in which real progress toward energy security can be made over the next several years. Find us on the web at http://www.setamericafree.org To get Set America Free updates by email click here. |
