Reuters: Gasoline cost to jump $700 for average household

The average U.S. household will spend about $700 more for gasoline in 2011 than it spent last year, bringing total motor fuel expenses up 28 percent to $3,235, based on an annual pump price of $3.61 a gallon, the department's Energy Information Administration said.

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If the current increase in the price of crude oil and the price of gasoline at the American pump happened from 2001-2008, the media and the Left would have been pointing the finger at President Bush. However, since we have Carter II in the White House, with the United States facing increasing economic troubles, as well as new and expanding threats in the Middle East, the mainstream media does not make the connection between the failure of Obama to provide any foreign policy leadership or any leadership that would implement a comprehensive energy policy--a hallmark of his 2008 Presidential campaign.

What we are now facing is the spectre of $5.00/gallon gasoline and a double-hit against an already weakened economy. The time is now to hold accountable Barack Obama, to demand action by Congress to pass a 'Marshall Plan' for Energy Security. By replacing 30% of the OPEC crude with domestically-produced transportation fuel, the United States can create solid, good-paying jobs and break the grip of the OPEC cartel on the United States.

It is a sad fact that families and small business see rising fuel and food bills and the political leaders in this country, at both the federal and state levels, continue to stick their heads in the proverbial sand.

Pike County Energy Company Funded for NGV Research

(PIKEVILLE,KY) Pike County-based CNG Energy, LLC, an alternative energy company, was one of the companies hosted by Governor Steve Beshear on Monday at a luncheon and press conference announcing their selection by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation to receive a Kentucky New Energy Venture Fund grant for their natural gas-to-vehicle project.

The $30,000.00 grant will fund a technology and economic feasibility study to aid the company's planned commercialization of its natural gas vehicle business and utilization of natural gas resources throughout Kentucky as an alternative transportation fuel.

In partnership with the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, CNG Energy, LLC will conduct a technical review which will evaluate proven technologies and processes; in addition, CNG Energy will work with leading business experts to determine the proper commercialization path for natural gas-to-vehicle conversion and transportation fueling systems, including how to harness underutilized natural gas currently not in production.
Local attorney Jamie Hamilton, a senior partner in CNG Energy, LLC, said he was excited about the prospects for the new energy venture.

"In my opinion, this grant will provide the framework to enable us to implement a solid plan for natural gas vehicles. We need alternatives to petroleum-based transportation fuels and natural gas is the most readily available domestic energy source that can be utilized for transportation fuel."

Natural gas vehicles promoters, such as T. Boone Pickens, say natural gas provides a more reliable, cleaner, cheaper, and cost efficient fuel to traditional transportation fuels.
Roger Ford, a senior partner in CNG Energy, LLC, points to the need for energy independence as a need to look at domestic energy sources for transportation fuels.

"When you look at where we need to focus the effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, it is in the area of transportation fuels. Our dependence on foreign oil is increasing. When you look at what are the most viable resources, clearly natural gas is one source that is abundant, and environmentally sound. Natural gas has some transmission infrastructure in place to utilize it for transportation fuel supply," Ford said.

CNG Energy, LLC points to the success of its proposal that won the funding. The company met recently with Dr. Rodney Andrews and the staff at U.K. CAER to develop the specific scope of work for the study and is moving forward with the research on the project.

"We plan on building a solid set of deliverables--a plan that shows the best technology-- a plan that will be successful. Natural gas-to-vehicles is not experimental technology; it is being supported by both the public sector and by private industry worldwide. Thanks to support form Governor Beshear, Energy Secretary Len Peters, along with the Kentucky Science Technology Corporation, the Morehead State University Innovation Center, as well as Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning and Congressman Hal Rogers, Kentucky will be an energy leader. Through strategic partnerships and bi-partisan support, CNG Energy, LLC hopes to play a part in the effort," Ford said.