Minimum Fuel Prices

One of the biggest threats to the development of alternative energy sources and technologies is the possibility of a collapse in oil prices. Such an occurrence would pull the rug out from under such initiatives because available investment will dry up if fuel prices become more competitive (i.e. lower).

It's happened before with the previous oil crises. But this time if we want to make lasting changes (for the better I might add) oil prices need to remain at least at their current levels high. One way to ensure that would be to have a minimum tax.

In other words, the price of oil should be handicapped to buy time for alternative energy technologies to emerge and replace those that depend on oil. John McElroy at Ward's Auto wrote a good article proposing that gas prices permanently remain at a minimum of $3.50 per gallon. It's a good read.