Combination of energy sources to reduce oil comsumption

I agree. Being on an island, DR is very vulnerable. Achieving more self-sustained methods of energy generation should be a goal of the DR. Because 1) Oil and other fossil fuels will not be around forever and will only get more expensive. And 2) DR cannot continue to afford to battle with the prices of fossil fuels.
As you said, diversification of energy sources is what the country needs (especially developing renewables). Only problem is that 1) DR energy sector is not attractive for investors, and 2) Renewables are still not as cheap than fossil fuels (so government would have to kick in to provide the incentives).

large reduction in gasolline, diesel and gas

The DR could make a large reduction in the transportation area by just slowing down. They have no idea that going fast or going uphill burns more fuel. Not to mention saving lives. Never happen in our lifetimes of course. In that vein its hard to see the DR plan ahead regarding energy. Its more like lets live for today!!! Speaking of today, where's my Brugal and the dominoes??

zoomzx11 said:

Speaking of today, where's my Brugal and the dominoes??

Click to expand...

LOL.

On the personal level there are small things one can do to reduce fuel consumption, true. But like you said, who's going to do that?

Even if DR starts the conversion to natural gas (for public vehicles), it only accounts for 1.4% of vehicles in the country. So, there's not much difference in oil consumption. And the DR, like all others, will continue to consume oil for transportation purposes. Small to large scale implementations that can help reduce oil consumption are: personal things like driving slower, use neutral more, and hundreds of other things. On larger level, switch your personal car to natural gas. On a even larger level, reduce the need to use a car to get around the city = effective public transportation (trains, buses, etc) = governments job.