10 Facts About Oil

…from the Environmental Defense Fund.

96 Percent of the world’s transportation energy currently supplied by oil.

$75 Cost of barrel of oil on July 18th, 2007.

$131 Cost of barrel of oil on July 18th, 2008.

9.6 billion Number of fewer miles Americans drove in May 2008 compared to May 2007.

10.3 billion Number of trips taken via the U.S. public transportation system in 2007, the highest in 50 years.

44 Percent increase in price of diesel fuel paid by public transit agencies.

20 Percent of America’s public transit agencies that are cutting services due to budget constraints.

46 Percent of population that has no access to public transit.

$6,251 Amount the average two-worker household saves annually by taking public transportation instead of driving a car.

2030 Year by which lifting the ban on offshore drilling may start to impact the price of gas.

Some of these make me wonder if expensive oil isn’t good for the planet and all of us. No offshore drilling – instead let’s put more money into public transit and alternative sources of fuel.