Benefits of High Oil Prices

I understand the pain of high oil prices, but there are some benefits:

1. Increased research (money) into biofuel alternatives. Not all of them corn based, some actually make sense.
2. Increased research into non-oil based plastics, ones that are organic based plastics. The projects that have already started were based on $40 a barrel, so with oil at over $150 these are very economical. And with the ability to quicker do the required bio-engineering, this is moving very quickly. Some people may be conservative on changing, but if the price difference is enough there will be a huge demand. Especially for some items that don't need to last 100 years (like bubble wrap).
3. Increased production of real Hybrids by more than just Toyota.
   
4. Decreased production of SUV's.
5. Increased research into batteries.
6. Plug in hybrids are getting closer
7. People taking jobs closer to where they live. I used to do a 90 minute commute one way, it was not good for a work/life balance and not great for the environment.
8. Increased efficiency in Brazil of Ethanol.
9. Increases in energy efficiency for everything from buildings to cars to appliances.
10. High Oil prices are speeding up the development of technology that will actually reduce the need for oil, which when this finally happens will make the world a better place (most places with lots of oil are not very nice nations).
    

Another writers reasons that high oil prices are good.