Governor Rendell Encourages Energy Conservation as Damage Assessments of Hurricane Katrina Continue

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 31, 2005 -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvanians who take steps to conserve fuel play a significant role in efforts to ease the widespread affects of Hurricane Katrina, especially as more drivers take to the highway to close out summer over the long Labor Day weekend. The Governor encouraged conservation during a Capitol news conference today highlighting the way Pennsylvanians can help their neighbors in the Gulf Coast states hit by the hurricane.

"Pennsylvanians have an important role to play to help ease the burden that a natural disaster of this magnitude can leave," Governor Rendell said. "Sometimes the smallest steps can make the biggest difference, and there are things every one of us can do to maximize fuel efficiency and offset the recent price increases."

Damage assessments continue along the Gulf Coast, one of the nation's primary spots for energy production, accounting for nearly a third of domestic oil production. No fuel supply shortages have been reported in the Northeast, but gas prices have increased sharply since the storm hit earlier this week.

Higher energy costs have a double affect on consumers. People have to spend more on their own energy needs, which means they have less to spend on other essentials items. Aside from rising gasoline prices, higher fuel costs also spill over into other markets and impact the price of food, airline tickets and other products. In addition, petroleum-based consumer products, including plastic wrap, luggage and nylon stockings, just to name a few, also increase in price. That makes conservation crucial.

Motorists can take steps to make gasoline dollars go farther and minimize the impact of high fuel prices on daily life. Vehicle maintenance is an important factor in fuel conservation. Proper maintenance improves gas mileage. Some ways to conserve fuel and save money include the following:

  --  Avoid quick stops and starts. This can save up to two miles a gallon.

  --  Don't be an aggressive driver. It lowers gas mileage by as much as 33
      percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets.

  --  Avoid excessive idling. Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon and
      consumes between one-half and one gallon of gasoline per hour.

  --  Check the vehicle's gas cap. Loose, damaged and missing gas caps
      allow 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

  --  Check tire pressure. When tires are under inflated, it is like
      driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per
      gallon.

  --  Replace worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have up to eight spark plugs,
      which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles. A dirty
      spark plug causes misfiring, wasting fuel.

  --  Replace dirty air filters that waste gas and cause engines to lose
      power. Replacing these filters can improve gas mileage by as much as
      10 percent, saving about 25 cents a gallon.

  --  Combine errands to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

  --  Take unnecessary weight out of trunks or back seats. By some
      estimates, hauling around an extra 100 pounds can cost 1 mile a
      gallon.

  --  Whenever possible, take public transportation or carpool.

Governor Rendell also has been working aggressively to enhance programs that assist motorists who face higher gas prices, including expanding the state's Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program (AFIG). AFIG helps residents purchase alternative-fuel vehicles and finances related fuel projects to create new markets that can have measurable impacts on pollution reduction, environmental protection and economic growth.

The new law invests in building and enhancing the infrastructure necessary to expand the state's capacity to produce alternative fuels. And, for the first time, DEP is offering incentives to stimulate the use of biofuels such as biodiesel. School districts, transit authorities, local government agencies and nonprofit organizations are eligible for grants to buy down the added cost to use these fuels.

Since its inception in 1992, DEP has awarded nearly $25 million in AFIG funds for 961 projects in more than 50 counties.

For more information, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/, Keyword "Alternative Fuels."

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