U.S. Totally Free of Oil Imports Seen Only a Few Decades Away
The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is leading the country in a robust program to allow residents to easily refuel their alternative powered vehicles conveniently at home, a step at freeing the US from oil imports. The city-wide changes are part of a wider program led by mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. known as the 2nd Century energy Initiative.
"We're ... changing our building codes to make them more appropriate for energy conservation," said mayor Bartlett. "We will be requiring in every newly constructed home, or even in duplexes and possibly fourplexes as well, that a pipe be stubbed out from the gas pipe between the gas meter and the home."
Bartlett said a valve on the pipe will allow a person to use a home compressor to fuel a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle, and that a dedicated electric circuit will also be required so as to charge electric cars.
Bartlett spoke by phone from his office in Tulsa on the ScienceNews Radio Network program, the Promise of Tomorrow with Colonel Mason. The broadcast originates in Dallas, Texas, and is now archived and Webcast for its world audience.
On the program Bartlett pointed out that natural gas is very inexpensive right now because it is so abundant. He said we are becoming less dependent on foreign oil each year and he predicted total independence from oil imports by the year 2050.
Mayor Bartlett will give opening remarks at the Fourth Annual Green Technologies Conference produced by Region 5 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) held April 19-22, 2012, in Tulsa. The public is urged to attend by registering at the website.