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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2008

Better Ways To Efficiency

Regarding "Deputies Told To Curb Fuel Use" (Metro, July 4):

My observation is that it's more a case of poor allocation of resources. Does anyone realize just how many various "law enforcement" vehicles drive our roads every day? Including those brand new, expensive "darkened" vehicles, with "Christmas lights" apparently permitted to make routine traffic stops. This law needs to be addressed.

If, as our sheriff recently stated, local residents don't realize how close we are to anarchy, then police resources need to focus on illegal immigration, gangs and gang warfare, and the drug culture.

After this situation is corrected, someone needs to address the number of "government" vehicles driving our roads daily. Couldn't just some of their work be accomplished with computers and cell phones? I'm guessing the resounding answer would be "yes."

WAYNE DOZARK

Tampa

'Pool' Bus Drivers
Using hypothetical numbers, school "A" uses six buses to transport children to and from school four times a day. Why not cut the mileage in half by parking all but one bus on school property after the morning run and send all drivers back on one bus and return the same way for the afternoon run. There is no need to send drivers back in empty buses half the time.

Save half the fuel for the day and wear and tear on buses. School grounds are insured to park buses. A program could be worked out for all schools, and the savings will be tremendous.

WALTER BLESSEE

New Port Richey

Try Four-Day Week

The fastest way to lower gas prices and reduce the oil consumption is to have all businesses in the United States go to a four-day work week. Ten hour days four days a week would reduce by one-fifth the amount of gas we now use just to get to work.

If we also started staggering start and stop work hours we could save even more. For example, 25 percent of workers start at 7:30 a.m., 25 percent at 8 a.m. etc. The reduction of rush hour traffic backups would save thousands of gallons of gas each day.

Why is no one talking about these quick, easy fixes? They should be started as soon as possible.

GERALD A. CERVENY SR.

Tampa

Americans Like Big Cars

How do you get American's to pay attention? Kick 'em right in the wallet.

I keep reading about high fuel prices and the high cost of a hybrid vehicle that gets high fuel mileage.

First, the price of fuel has been going up for a very long time and nobody was paying attention.

Second, fuel-efficient vehicles have been available for a quite some time. In 1999, I purchased a vehicle that has a government fuel rating of 49 miles per gallon, a Volkswagen Golf TDI (diesel). It was so inexpensive to drive I bought another model, a 2003, as a second car.

The point is vehicles that get high mileage have been available for quite a few years. Very few people bought them. The reason the hybrid vehicles are so popular is only because fuel is so expensive, and right now they are the only thing available for sale that gets 48 mpg.

ALBERTO GOTAY

Tampa

Who Is Benefiting?

Regarding "Ethanol Hurts Mileage" (Letters, July 3):

Thank you to B.D. Coleman. Someone beside me has finally seen it.

Ethanol takes more energy to produce than it puts out. Because corn is used, the market price goes up. Because corn produces a poor grade of ethanol, our mileage goes down but the price keeps going up. Where then is the advantage of ethanol?

It was proven in Colorado a number of years ago that there was almost no difference in pollution between gasoline and ethanol. So why in the world are we still using ethanol? Who is benefiting?

RICHARD AXINN

Sun City Center

A Federal Mandate

Regarding "Follow The Money" (Letters, July 3):

Addition of ethanol to gasoline is a federal requirement, not a state mandate, as follows:

"EPACT2005 requires that the use of renewable motor fuels be increased from the 2004 level of just over 4 billion gallons to a minimum of 7.5 billion gallons in 2012, after which the requirement grows at a rate equal to the growth of the gasoline pool 19. The law does not require that every gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel be blended with renewable fuels. Refiners are free to use renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, in geographic regions and fuel formulations that make the most sense, as long as they meet the overall standard."

It is up to the refiner to meet the ethanol requirement, not the state or the retailer. That's why every station is not 10 percent ethanol.

RICHARD PEYSER

Tampa

Now Using More Fuel

Since 2006, Congress has required that corn-based ethanol be added to the nation's gasoline supplies. The legislators say the goal is to reduce dependency on foreign oil while at the same time improving the environment.

It was a terrible decision.

Farmers have responded by planting record corn crops and reducing planting of soybeans, oats and other agricultural staples. Americans are bearing the brunt with higher food prices.

Don't let anyone tell you the 10 percent addition of ethanol to gasoline won't affect your gas mileage. I own an economical 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt that has been averaging 29 to 30 mpg in city driving and up to 36 mpg on the highway.

I have checked my mpg every fill up since I purchased the car new. With 10 percent ethanol in gasoline, my local mileage has dropped nearly 10 percent to 26 mpg.

I now use more fuel rather than less.

JOHN TISCHNER

Dunedin

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