PARKING THE GAS GUZZLERS

Faced with high fuel prices and possible shortages, President Bush suggested that Americans might give up unnecessary driving trips. His brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, parked his gas-guzzling Ford Expedition and is now riding in a hybrid Ford Escape. The governor’s actions speak louder than the president’s words.

After Hurricane Rita, the president said that if Americans were “able to maybe not drive on a trip that’s not essential, that would be helpful.” He also sent a memo to department heads encouraging them to conserve energy by curtailing unnecessary travel and encouraging employees to carpool.

A White House spokesman, Ken Lisaius, said that the size of the president’s motorcade was scaled back when possible. Asked about switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles, he said the motorcade was under the purview of the Secret Service.

The president’s brother, on the other hand, has become a “conserver.” “It’s kind of hard to be arguing to conserve gasoline when you’re driving around in a Ford Expedition that guzzles it down at a six- to eight-miles per gallon clip,” Gov. Bush said when he switched to the hybrid vehicle.

Other governors, including Maine’s John Baldacci, have come to the same conclusion. Two Midwestern governors switched to SUVs that run on a blend of gas and ethanol. Gov. Baldacci switched from a Chevrolet Suburban to a mid-size car.

It is a modest step, but one that could save a lot of gasoline, while also reducing pollution, if Americans follow suit. Transportation accounts for about 40 percent of U.S. oil consumption. The demand for gasoline has increased rapidly due to sprawl and the proliferation of sport utility vehicles. The problem with large SUVs is that it simply takes more gas to move them. In a recent report, the EPA concluded that if the “new 2005 light-duty vehicle fleet had the same distribution of performance and the same distribution of weight as in 1987, it could have achieved about 24 percent higher fuel economy.”

By switching from a large SUV to a mid-size sedan, Gov. Baldacci has seen even greater fuel savings. A 2005 Suburban gets 18 miles to the gallon during highway travel, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A Chevrolet Impala gets 32.

There is already evidence that high fuel prices are already causing U.S. drivers to re-think their car choices. Sales of some of the largest SUVs are down by as much as half in recent months while sales of some hybrid models have nearly doubled.

With an additional push from state capitols, fuel efficiency is gaining traction.