WINDMILLS AND HYDROGEN, NOT OIL WARS by Peter Moss Since there are no waiting lines at gas stations, we have no "energy crisis" now. And although the Iraq war is misrepresented as against Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction," almost everybody understands that it is a war for Iraq's oil to avoid future shortages that could end the Bush regime next year. But there need not be any crisis at all because when one source becomes obsolete, it's just time for a transition to another source. Just as we have transitioned from firewood to coal, and from whale oil to petroleum, instead of war now we should start transitioning from fossil fuels and nukes to windmills and hydrogen. In his State of the Union message, President Bush mentioned hydrogen and fuel cells, saying that children born today will live to drive fuel cell cars in 40 years. But there are two negatives with that vision. First, hydrogen can be used immediately and directly in slightly modified internal combustion engines. In fact, BMW has some dual fuel cars on the road now. When the hydrogen tank runs out, the car continues on gasoline by the flick of a switch next to the gear shift lever. Thus instead of forty years, we should aim to convert in 40 months. The other negative is that hydrogen can be generated by windmills or by steam reforming hydrocarbons. The latter adds to air pollution, global warming, and does not end our dependence on imported oil. All the Detroit car makers are in on the hydrogen fuel cell but I see that as a trick to delay transition to hydrogen by 40 years. My challenge to Mr. Bush: use the estimated $200-billion cost of the war on Iraq for a 40-month transition to windmills and hydrogen. In a letter to Governor Jim Douglas, I proposed a new Vermont industry: "Media accounts say you are interested in economic development and job growth. My first suggestion is to create an accelerated transition to hydrogen from fossil fuels and nukes. People who have the mechanical skills to build the Fairbanks scales in St. Johnsbury could certainly build kits to convert automobiles and trucks to dual fuel: hydrogen/gasoline. BMW has such cars on the road and has the technology and nobody in the world is doing conversion kits now." Details are in my essay: EOLECTRICITY = ECONOMY + EMPLOYMENT + ENVIRONMENT which is on my web site: http://www.petermoss.org. My proposal would provide: 1. economic development, 2. new jobs in Vermont, 3. stop additional global warming and air pollution, 4. independence from foreign energy, 5. no blood for oil wars, 6. No destruction of ecosensitive land for oil and coal deposit, 7. hydrogen is inexhaustible, made from water and burns to water. Who says you can't have it all and soon? The fossil fuel, nuke and "defense" merchants? I pledge to take them on if elected next year.