I spoke to my brother last Saturday morning and I love it when we are both riding on the same roller coaster. We had both read the headline, "Obama asks Congress for $2 BILLION for energy research as he predicts cars that drive from 'coast to coast without a drop of oil'"

WE ARE SAVED!

Our fearless leader has proposed investing $2 billion over the next decade in clean energy technology with an emphasis on automobiles. He delivered this great news in front of a national treasure of US energy research, The Argonne National Laboratory in his home town of Chicago. His goal is to wean our nation from fossil fuels and he plans to put some real skin in the game.

My brother was quick to point out that 2 in the lowest number that qualifies as a plural for billion - that's B with an S - for future talking points. Of course my brother may be somewhat of a cynic.

He went on to point out that such an investment was equivalent to the value of US oil production on each Leap Day in the upcoming decade:

"Love the concepts. But..... if 7.03 million bbls of US oil daily (EIA data) at est $100/bbl, that's $703 million/day sales. So, every 4 years on Leap Day, we get the money to invest in the future, then wait 4 years and let them sell another $TRILLION in oil before we get another bite at the pie. Isn't this a pittance if this initiative is serious, at less than 1/10 of one cent on the US oil production dollar?"

Of course during the upcoming decade fossil fuel companies will receive about $520 billion in US subsidies and support to defend pipe lines and shipping lanes - only 260 times as much money as the President believes is necessary to develop alternatives. To put this in household budget terms, I bought a great used Toyota SUV this year for about $21,000. So if I save about $81 a year for 10 years I should be able to buy an equally good replacement full of the newest technology with the cash.

From another perspective, we could ask, "Will US taxpayers get their 2 cents worth?"

Obama's grand idea would invest $200 million a year for 10 years - about $1.00 each year for every American adults aged 19 thru 64 . Now that's big money. This may be another, "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth (before the end of the decade)" moment. Every adult can rest in peaceful bliss each and every sabbath assured that their energy future is secure since they are going to get exactly their 2 cents worth of salvation in the upcoming week.

At that price point, we might be able to harness the power of the human fart but not much else…

I just read an estimate that Americans spent $4.7 billion this year celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. This included not only the cost of green rivers and green beer but green clothing, party favors, party food and parades. I wonder if folks consuming corned beef, cabbage, Paddy's Irish whisky and cheap green beer have more potential energy in their farts? Is the University of Notre Dame going to be the source of cold fart fusion?