It's shocking how much it costs to fill a car's gas tank these days. Increased fuel costs are having an impact on almost every aspect of life. Food costs and other physical product prices are inflated due to increases in transportation and shipping. For those who drive, a majority of Americans, disposable income is decreased. It is hard to find a silver lining in all that.
However, there is one positive side effect. Just like in the gas crunch of the 1980s, the steep cost of fuel has turned the public's eyes back toward alternative energy and sustainable energy. In other words, the pain of fuel prices has exceeded the complacency. There is now an increased interest in fossil fuel alternatives.