The price of energy has a very strong influence on the energy
choices governments and individuals make. I sometimes hear
people ask "Why are we still building coal-fired power plants?"
or "Why don’t we replace more petroleum with biomass?" One
reason is that biomass is generally more difficult to use from a
logistical point of view. Another is that there just isn’t
enough biomass to meet present energy demands. But a major
factor comes down to price. The price and convenience of energy
sources are ultimately the keys to customer acceptance. Homes
can be heated with wood, heating oil, natural gas, or
electricity. Automobiles can be fueled with gasoline, ethanol,
natural gas, diesel, electricity, and a wide variety of more
unconventional fuels. If consumers have a choice and the supply
is convenient, they will tend toward the cheapest energy source
they can get. Below I have compiled a list of current prices for
some of the more common energy options on an energy equivalent
basis – the British Thermal Unit (BTU