Wilson

Are we Paying too Little for Gas?

written by Reid Wilson

Today in Central Illinois, a gallon of gas generally costs between three and four dollars. For many, at first glance, that seems like a high price to pay for just one gallon of gas that will only take them about 20 miles. However, many environmentalists and organizations have begun to vocalize the idea that we are paying too small a price when considering what actually goes into making and consuming that product.

According to a landmark video by the Center for Investigative Reporting, there are countless invisible costs to the mining, transport, purchase, and consumption of gasoline. What this organization did is followed a gallon of gasoline from the time it was mined until its use in a vehicle and found that there is much more to the price we pay for gas than meets the eye. A defining set of statistics from the Center are as follows: One gallon of gas being used produces about 25 lbs of greenhouse gas pollution. American drivers each use an average of 557 gallons of gasoline a year. This means that a single US driver creates about 10,000 lbs of greenhouse gas every year, which takes about an acre of forest to clean from the air. This may seem like a lot, and it really is especially when it’s taken into account that there are about 238 million cars and trucks in the United States.

According to a landmark video by the Center for Investigative Reporting, there are countless invisible costs to the mining, transport, purchase, and consumption of gasoline. What this organization did is followed a gallon of gasoline from the time it was mined until its use in a vehicle and found that there is much more to the price we pay for gas than meets the eye. A defining set of statistics from the Center are as follows: One gallon of gas being used produces about 25 lbs of greenhouse gas pollution. American drivers each use an average of 557 gallons 11

of gasoline a year. This means that a single US driver creates about 10,000 lbs of greenhouse gas every year, which takes about an acre of forest to clean from the air. This may seem like a lot, and it really is especially when it’s taken into account that there are about 238 million cars and trucks in the United States. The pure time, energy, and material cost of completing such tasks would be immense, much more than the cost for any other good which we so readily use. This is the consideration that allows the argument to be made that the United States is not paying enough for gasoline.

German citizens pay more than $8.00 for gasoline. Why? They have implemented a social tax due to the massive environmental, health, and agricultural problems associated with the harvesting and use of gasoline. In LA, the average cost of pollution adds up to more than $1250 per person per year due to ER visits and missed work or school days. Factoring in externalities, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental costs, the general estimation for how much gas would cost in the United States is up to $15 per gallon. The social tax paid by citizens of Germany is just over $1, but it’s certainly a start.

The reason why many activists and institutions want these taxes and infrastructure costs integrated into the gas price itself is much like the situation that our country is facing with cigarettes and other nicotine products. Taxes paid on those products will not only demotivate people from starting the habit or having easy access to these addictive substances, but also fund health programs, and be given as subsidies for groups who try to stop children from starting drug habits. In the context of gasoline, these taxes would help not only with paying for treatments for people who are having health issues due to the Benzene and other foul emissions, but also for infrastructural change to help fund more efficient electric car projects or renewable energy plants.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RhYY _ 4Wzls