An open letter From congressman Stearns
An open letter Form congressman Stearns This letter was taken from the email of Freespeech, and was copied and pasted to this forum for all to read and reply to. Representative Stearns is an honorable man that shows true concern and compassion for his constituents. If you have any concerns, or questions please feel free to contact him through his web site @. http://www.house.gov/stearns He will reply to your communications. As with millions of Americans, I am shocked by the cost of filling up with gasoline. In Florida, the average cost of gasoline is $3.56 per gallon, a 51% increase from a year ago. A number of factors contribute to the soaring gas prices. Regardless of the reasons, working families are being hit hard by record prices at the pump. The purpose of this newsletter is to try to shed some light on why prices are so high. In addition, I have provided some simple and inexpensive tips on how to reduce the amount of gas your car needs. I hope you find this information helpful and please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. Sincerely, Clifford Stearns Why are gas prices so high? The high price of gasoline results from the cost of crude oil, the world demand and supply for oil, our limited refining capacity, and taxes. We are now seeing record highs for the cost of crude oil, well over $100 a barrel. The previous highs were in 2005 after hurricanes disrupted oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. The supply of crude oil around the world is not keeping pace with the burgeoning demand in such markets as China and India. Although increasing domestic oil production would bring some benefits, other oil-producing nations and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) could cut production to keep supplies tight and thus the prices high. How can we lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on imported oil in the near future? One government survey indicates that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska could yield 10 to 16 billion barrels of oil, enough to replace all of our imports from Saudi Arabia. The Refuge covers 19 million acres, but development would occur only on 1.5 million acres utilizing advanced technology to prevent any environmental damage. In addition, America possesses about one quarter of the world's coal supply, enough to meet current demand for 250 years. There is already a workable process that turns coal into a liquid fuel for trucks and automobiles, and clean-coal technologies are reducing the environmental impact of using this fuel. Also, we could open up more of offshore America to development, while keeping any new drilling at least 125-230 miles away from the coast of Florida. After all, Cuba, with the help of China, is producing oil 45 miles from the Florida coast. The Department of the Interior estimates that 8.5 billion barrels of oil could be recovered from off of America's coast. Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the United States' electricity and it is the number one source of emission-free electricity. The U.S. currently has 104 reactors in operation and most were brought on-line in the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, 37 of the current reactors began operating between 1970 and 1975 and no new reactor has been ordered since the mid-1970s. In addition, the limited refining capacity of the United States leads to high gas prices, and this nation has not built a new refinery in three decades. What can Congress do? America has the means to increase domestic energy production, and I am working to develop the will to reduce our dependence on imported oil. Congress should open ANWR to environmentally sensitive production, increase offshore drilling, reduce the barriers to more nuclear plants, and allow more refineries to be built. We must also develop renewable and alternative fuels. As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I am working to increase the use of new fuels and technologies, including renewable energy sources, along with promoting more efficiency. Crude Oil Prices Here are some ways you can beat high gasoline prices 1. Slow down. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $.12-$.82/gallon 2. Keep your car maintained and running smoothly. Tune ups Clean air filters Tires properly inflated Proper grade of oil 3. Use your engine wisely. Avoid Excessive Idling Use Cruise Control and overdrive gears 4. Be smart about driving. Plan errands to do them together, rather than on separate trips Carpool Mass transit Telecommute 5. Keep your car light. Too often cars become long-term storage facilities Compare gas prices in Florida http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/FL.shtml Please visit my award winning website at http://www.house.gov/stearns to learn more.
Trade in ur SUV
Submitted by jimmaxie on Sun, 04/27/2008 - 2:01pm.
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Submitted by Snookie on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 9:37pm.
It definitely takes planning and cooperation with your spouse, but we've been planning our route to go to the farthest place of the day and work our way back in a specific order. We think that may be the best way to make our gas money work. We also ask ourselves, "Do we really need to go there?" Couldn't we order it online and pick it up in a week? While on the way back from ,,,," With summer coming on and the kids out of school, every dollar will count.
Submitted by freespeech on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 11:33pm.
I have changed my ways, of driving. Jmaxie, trading in your SUV is working, look at the car lots as you drive by them. MeMaw #1 one worked for me. I’m a NASCAR fan and have always had a lead foot. With the price of gas I had to take a look at my driving habits; so I forced myself to change them, and that wasn’t easy. I decided to drive by short shifting the car. I would shift @ 2000 RPM through 5th gear, and accelerate slow too the speed limit. On the highway 55-60 at the most, I did that for a tank of gas and was shocked at the extra miles per tank. I gained and extra forty five miles out if a tank of gas, that’s a weeks worth of driving for me. Another thing that I did is air pressure in the tires, and make sure the air cleaner is clean. I prefer using a K& N filter, it is reusable and supplies better air flow too the engine. Speaking of air flow I have also installed a Tornado gas saver, it creates a vortex that gives the engine even more air; air equals mileage, and better performance. And one last thing that I have done is used and additive called Dur A Lube, there are other brands it’s just the one I prefer. They work! Less friction in the engine equals more performance and better mileage, the same goes for the tires, on the friction thing.
Ok after all of that here is what it increased my mileage too, the best I could get when this whole change of habits come about; was 28 mpg, after all the changes I made in driving, and mechanical. I increased it too 34mpg. Guy's that is an exstra 60 miles to a tank of gas, as Jonathan would say AWESOME The hardest part of the whole thing was learning to let people pass me, with out trying too race them too the next light. There is one thing that has stood out about my new driving habits, that is the ones who blow by you on the road are the ones you catch up too at the next light. Honk if you want, if you would like to pay for the extra gas I use, I would be more than happy to haul ass again.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 6:41am.
I love my Yaris. Around town I get 35mpg...wish I could figure out a way to tow my boat with it. I would get rid of the minivan.
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