Dr. Robert Zubrin, author of Energy Victory: Winning the War by Breaking Free of Oil, offered that single best idea to reduce the price of oil at one of the AIPAC break out sessions.

Congress should require that all new cars manufactured or sold in the United States must be flex fuel capable.

This would allow cars to accept gasoline, natural gas, biofuels or ethanol blends. Zurbin contends that it would add only $100 to the cost of a car. It may, however, add considerable costs to the fuel delivery systems.

By requiring foreign car manufacturers to comply it would quickly carry the flex fuel standard world wide.

This would create an enormous incentive for fuel stations to carry alternative fuels which would drive down the market demand for oil. Currently so few stations carry alternative fuels because so few vehicles can use them. People are hesitant to buy alternative fuel vehicles because there is no place to fuel it.

Brazil has half of their cars using domestically produced bio fuels. Israel plans to be totally oil independent in ten years.

A bonus benefit is that it would stimulate development of biofuels in the third world who could grow crops for biofuels conversion. It would be a much better source of revenue than foreign aid.

I would add to this great idea a tax credit to people or businesses who pay to convert their existing vehicles to flex fuel.

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