That old black magic
To reduce our dependence on foreign oil, the institute helped organize Set America Free, a coalition of nonprofit organizations and individuals spanning the entire political spectrum that is introducing ways to solve this imminent crisis. Set America Free's blueprint is based entirely on increasing the use of existing technologies like hybrid cars, flexible fuel vehicles, and cheap alcohol-based fuels that require no additional research and development. The number of hybrid cars has actually grown 10-fold since the turn of the century, but the 100,000 hybrids sold last year still represent only about one half of 1 percent of the 17 million new cars sold in 2004.
Whether we pursue the president's plan or any number of others that will originate in Congress this year, we must work immediately to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The president's timing for a rational energy plan is good. We can't afford to waste another quarter century in coming to terms with our dependence on imported oil.
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