Fracking and electric vehicles in NC

Apparently, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources wants to explore for natural gas in these mountains. Long and short — they want to frack here. There goes our pristine mountain water. Obviously, these politicians are in the back pockets of the oil and gas industry. I think we need to tell them to go frack themselves.

Meanwhile, there is a new state tax of $100 tax on electric vehicles. With only 1,600 EVs in the state, bringing in $100 each, the total comes to about $160,000 income for the state — hardly a dent in the budget. It’s really more punitive — looks like the cronies in Raleigh are afraid of the increasing demand for EVs. In the U.S., sales of EVs jumped 83 percent in 2012. With General Motors considering buying TESLA, we know something is up. In fact, Americans are buying more EVs than their counterparts in Europe and Japan.

Let’s do some math. Suppose five years ago, Joel went from a 25-mile-per-gallon car to a hybrid at an average of about 48 miles per gallon. Since then he drove 105,000 miles. How much did he save in gas? A little calculation shows he saved over 2,000 gallons of gas. At an average of $3.50 per gallon, that’s over $7,000 in savings in five — not too shabby — and Joel bought the car used.

So now Joel upgraded to an EV. I guess he’ll pay the extra $100 and laugh past every gas station. Notice, no mention was made of reduced emissions so as not to offend the global warming skeptics. But, if you think tailpipes are clean, try sticking your nose at the end of one for a few minutes.

Seriously Raleigh — less government?

— Rudy Beharrysingh
Asheville