Gas prices first on list of worries
By Jessica VanderKolk, jvanderkolk@altoonamirror.comArticle Photos
Dan and Karen Peck moved back to Pennsylvania when they got tired of spending money on gas to travel from South Carolina to visit their parents.
They arrived in Houtzdale permanently in March.
''They're coming down now, but I expect them to go right back up,'' Dan Peck said last month about gas prices. ''Maybe a little higher.''
Prices in South Carolina were ''just as bad'' as Pennsylvania's during the two years the Pecks lived there.
''They're bad all over the place,'' Karen Peck said.
This year's rise in gas prices - reaching more than $4 a gallon at one point - have inspired many residents to change their travel habits or vehicles.
Last month, Pennsylvania's average price for regular gasoline dipped to $3.75. The average dropped further to $3.59 Tuesday, after the Labor Day holiday weekend.
As one of the top issues on voters' minds this year, energy prices have dominated discussions, town hall meetings and advertisements from the presidential candidates.
When gas prices climbed to more than $3 a gallon in May 2007, Gordon Hampton decided his Lincoln's 16 miles a gallon wasn't good enough.
In one day, Hampton of Lakemont received his motorcycle learner's permit and purchased insurance and a bright yellow, 250cc scooter, which gets about 60 miles a gallon.
Hampton practiced with the scooter for eight months before moving up to a 600cc scooter, which better fit his 6-foot, 3-inch frame.
He bought the scooter in February and gets about 41 miles a gallon.
''They are such a nice ride,'' he said.
Hampton uses the scooter as his everyday vehicle, parking the Lincoln.
''In fact, I let my inspection run out on it," he said.
-- Focus on fuel efficiency --
Hampton isn't the only person to seek a vehicle with better mileage.
A month ago, Steve Seltzer Honda had only two scooters in stock, with four more on the way.
''Inventories are really tight this year because nobody was expecting this,'' President and General Manager Steve Seltzer said. ''Honda already came out with the 2009 scooters because they sold out of the '08s. We usually don't get them until February.''
Scooter sales doubled this year from 2007, while motorcycle sales increased about 40 percent, the latter more popular with riders.
For those sticking with four-wheeled vehicles, used, fuel-efficient cars have gained in popularity.
Bill Alberts owns Veterans Auto Sales after deciding in June to close his Chrysler/ Jeep dealership in East Freedom.
At first, people sought small vehicles, such as the Dodge Neon and Ford Focus. Now, people seek slightly larger vehicles but still with good fuel economy, such as the Mazda 6 and Nissan Altima.
''The whole new car industry has changed, and I think it has changed forever,'' Alberts said. ''Used cars [sales], I think, are going to radically increase. I don't look for that to back off.''
-- Scaling back --
While some people seek vehicles with better mileage, others alter their travel habits with the vehicles they have, including Ken Lashley of Ebensburg.
''I have a camp over by Bedford,'' he said. ''I used to go once or twice a week. Now it's once or twice a month.''
Lashley would like to see government officials explore all possibilities, including alternative energy and more oil drilling. He especially likes the idea of wind power.
Scott Estep, also of Ebensburg, sees the impact of gas prices on groceries and other items for his children, 19 months and almost 3.
''It's $4 a gallon for milk,'' he said. ''When my oldest was born, it was two and a quarter. We don't buy formula anymore, but diapers are up 25 percent.''
While Pennsylvanians still traveled this year, they did so in shorter distances and for less time. Travel agencies have taken creative license to promote vacations.
''I think it's the older people who saved who are traveling more,'' said Cheryl Moore of the Scenic Travel Agency in DuBois. ''The older people are doing Europe, Australia and Alaskan cruises. We're doing a lot of honeymoons, but instead of a week, it's four or five days.''
Moore's business accommodates travelers by allowing installment payment plans and offers couples a bridal registry, allowing guests to donate to the couple's honeymoon plans.
''You have to be more inventive,'' she said. ''You have to make it easy for people to see they can still do something.''
-- Where they stand --
John McCain's and Barack Obama's focus on the issue includes different strategies to gain independence from foreign oil.
McCain's plan starts with expanding domestic oil and natural gas exploration and drilling to the Outer Continental Shelf.
He also wants the nation to recommit to nuclear power plants, with plans to build 45 more by 2030.
McCain wants to create higher energy efficiency, starting with the federal government, and he does not support a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
Obama's plan includes using oil company windfall profits to provide an emergency energy rebate of $500 for an individual and $1,000 for a married couple.
He also calls for releasing light oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cut prices now and, for the long term, he plans to spend $150 billion over 10 years to promote renewable energy development and help create 5 million new green jobs.
-- What the experts say --
While supply and demand from the public drives gasoline prices at the pump, Penn State Harrisburg assistant professor Peter Swan said the value of the dollar also contributes.
''The decline we've seen recently is more driven by the dollar increasing in value versus other currencies,'' he said of gas prices. ''Even with the dollar getting stronger, the Chinese and Indian economies awakening are basically going to keep the price of oil up.''
While prices have decreased, they still stand at more than $3.50 a gallon, and ''that's not going to go away,'' Swan said.
As for presidential policies, Swan said a president can't do much in the short term.
''Drilling, even if it works, if it happened tomorrow, it wouldn't have much of an effect,'' he said. ''Tapping the Strategic Reserve is not going to have much of an effect. The president would have an effect more by using the bully pulpit and exhorting people to drive less, buddy up and inflate their tires.''
While a comment this summer from Obama about properly inflated tires received laughs, the 2007 AAA Gas Watchers Guide states that underinflated tires can cut fuel economy as much as 2 percent per pound below the recommended level.
Penn State University professor Andrew Kleit said politicians experience tension regarding energy decisions.
''Politicians want to reduce the price of gasoline, but they also talk about renewable fuels, which will only happen if the price of gas goes up,'' he said. ''I think what everyone has to understand is that all sources of energy - all of them - have environmental consequences, and these are the trade-offs that society is going to have to deal with.''
-- Trying to cope --
In the meantime, area residents and businesses are taking action. Bill Ward, chairman of Ward Trucking in Altoona, said his company faced a 50 percent increase in diesel fuel prices last year. He plans to replace about 80 company cars with hybrids next year, when the current leases expire.
''I drive a Prius,'' he said. ''I love it. I thought, since we're gonna go green and go hybrid with all the company cars, I'd start by example.''
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
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BryMan
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09-14-08 10:44 AM
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I did the research - your assertions are just not true. But hey, let's pretend you're right, let's quit paying gas taxes and then quit paying for the roads that those taxes build. As I said previously, you're focusing on small details and ignoring the big picture.
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homerbeep
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09-14-08 8:09 AM
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Do the research! The Feds get more profit (from taxes) than the evil oil companies. And just WHO owns them? Millions of ordinary AMERICAN CITIZENS, many of whom are retirees, invest in them for their pensions. And Maxine Waters wants to "nationalize" them, like Chavez did in Venezuela. Obama wants to tax them even more, so that we can pay even MORE for gasoline. No thanks...
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BryMan
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09-10-08 12:55 PM
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Homerbeep - it seems that you prefer a nearsighted view of issues... Oil companies make profits on drilling for the oil, raw crude, licensing fees to stations, per gallon costs, etc. etc. etc. Not to mention the corporate welfare that they GET BACK from those gas taxes. As usual you are right(wing) and wrong.
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homerbeep
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09-10-08 3:55 AM
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BryMan: It's true. The Feds get more of a slice of the gasoline pie than the oil companies. Their profit margin is pretty small in comparison to other industries.
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RazMnaz
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09-09-08 9:53 AM
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I will continue to drive my safe, roomy, luxury SUV too. The gas mileage really isn't that bad in it. Plus I'm not ready for a Fred Flinstone car yet.
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gandulf
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09-08-08 5:27 PM
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Waterboarding and the liberals--sounds like a plan to me.
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gandulf
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09-08-08 4:22 PM
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Yes by all means drive a Prius or some other 'feel good' vehicle. I on the other hand, will continue to drive my gas guzzling, very comfortable, and safe SUV. It is so delicioius to watch how many people actually buy into this global warming hoax.
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BryMan
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09-08-08 1:04 PM
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HB "Our gov't makes more from gasoline sales than big, evil oil itself does! ????" Where are you pulling that from? And since when is Republican government small government? - get with this century! We need big oil money to pay for our big oil war.
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newfalls
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09-08-08 8:32 AM
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well, yes -drive a pruis ----------those with money can afford to do so -BUT the little guy remains in a tough place ---times are tough &will get worse --let's hope for not to long!
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Chuxspringer
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09-08-08 7:12 AM
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homerbeep, Obama AIN'T no Clinton. He'll be worse.
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Chuxspringer
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09-08-08 7:11 AM
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Hey Palin gave the windfall back to her people in the form of cash rebates. Do you think Obama will do that too? The past several years of economics has been iun the hands of those that control the purse strings .... Congress, who has been in control there?
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homerbeep
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09-08-08 3:41 AM
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BryMan: Our gov't makes more from gasoline sales than big, evil oil itself does! Obama's windfall profits tax would give big, evil gov't even MORE money while WE pay even MORE! BTW..."McSame"? Yeah, McCain = Bush like Obama = Clinton...the good news is that liberalism is treatable;^)
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BryMan
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09-07-08 7:58 PM
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Luckily McSame has chosen another shill of big oil, so their profits are safe.... never fear.
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Chuxspringer
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09-07-08 5:25 PM
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Hey! Skip the big wedding, reception, & honeymoon and spend it on gas. No one looks at those pictures after 10 tears anyway.
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Chuxspringer
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09-07-08 5:23 PM
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Overinflate your tires for better milage!
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homerbeep
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09-07-08 4:58 PM
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NOBAMA for Chavez-style Presidente in '08! MORE taxes, BIGGER government, MORE failed entitlement programs, MORE talk and LESS action, FEWER babies born alive...NOBAMA '08!
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Jenkins
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09-07-08 12:18 PM
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For more of the same, vote McCrazy.
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