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ISSUE: Higher gasoline prices

OUR VIEW: Americans ready for alternative to simply driving less



With gas prices heading for $4 a gallon, will consumers make changes in their habits or bite the bullet and pay more and more?

Opinion Research Corp. survey results suggest there are changes: Nearly six in 10 people claim their driving behavior has changed because of rising gas prices. A third of motorists surveyed stated that they would made changes when the price of gasoline reached $3 a gallon, and another 32 percent would invoke driving behavior changes if prices reach $4 a gallon.

When asked how their driving behavior has changed because of rising gasoline costs, 90 percent said they are driving less and 75 percent revealed that they are better maintaining their vehicle. Other specific behavioral changes were carpooling more (31 percent), purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles (30 percent) and making greater use of public transportation (24 percent).

Conservation is not a bad thing, but all this is somehow un-American. This nation's people should not have to move away from being the mobile society we are. And neither do we have to be held hostage forever by big oil and unfriendly nations. There are alternatives, from fuels to different systems for powering vehicles. But change takes time.

Events such as one being held in Florence today are about making the change. The Clemson University event is a conference about growing plants in South Carolina that can make the gasoline alternative ethanol.

"Switchgrass: Energy for the Future" will offer the opportunity to see and learn more about research and future of switchgrass as a biofuel. Included will be a tour and presentations by researchers, legislators and corporate sponsors.

Switchgrass is considered a good candidate for biofuel, especially ethanol fuel production, because of its hardiness. It grows rapidly, needing little fertilizer and care while tolerating poor soil and stressful climate conditions.

Unlike corn, another ethanol source, switchgrass is a perennial and produces a remarkable six tons to 10 tons per acre. This gives switchgrass the potential to produce 1,000 gallons of ethanol per acre, compared to 665 gallons for sugarcane and 400 gallons for corn.

President George W. Bush in his 2006 State of the Union address pledged to increase funding for ethanol and other alternative fuels, resulting in a surge of more than $100 million for energy research.

Looking beyond oil and corn to efficient alternative fuels is essential if America is to become energy independent. Switchgrass and other crops hold big promise. An efficient, moderately priced alternative to oil (even if the definition of moderate ultimately is higher costs than we pay today) stands to be good for consumers and business. The price of oil will only continue to spiral.

Americans are waiting even as we drive along burning money.

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