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KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Sunday, March 16, 2008

Gasoline Prices Above $3 Mark Across Much of Missouri
ST. LOUIS, (kansascityfrontpage.com), March 16, 2008 - Gasoline prices shot above the $3 mark across much of Missouri this week. With the likelihood of even higher fuel prices to come, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Center is renewing its "Saving Green on Gasoline" campaign, offering tips and information to help Missourians save on fuel costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy issued new projections March 11 estimating that higher crude oil costs could push U.S. average retail gasoline prices this spring to peak near $3.50 per gallon, while diesel prices are expected to average around $3.70 per gallon in March and April.

"Many drivers feel helpless in the face of higher fuel costs," said Anita Randolph, director of the Missouri Energy Center. "The only way most of us can take some control of commuting costs is through more energy-efficient driving. By following fuel economy and conservation measures, many drivers can make dramatic cuts in their transportation costs."

The Energy Center's "Saving Green on Gasoline" Web page and brochure include tips and links to Internet resources on driving techniques, vehicle maintenance, trip planning, carpooling, mass transit, and car buying. A few of these tips are:

Plan driving routes to avoid congested areas. Avoid rush hour and peak traffic times when possible.
Avoid extended warm-ups. Don't rev up the engine. Instead, accelerate gently and drive slowly for a mile or so.
Accelerate smoothly and moderately. Achieve the desired speed and then keep steady pressure on the accelerator.
Do not let the engine idle for more than a minute. It takes less gasoline to restart the car than it does to let it idle.
Minimize braking. Anticipate speed changes. Let off the accelerator immediately after noticing a red light or slowed traffic ahead. Observe the posted speed limit. On the highway, most automobiles get about 20 percent more miles per gallon at 55 mph than they do at 70 mph.
Have your car tuned at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Regular tune-ups extend engine life and improve performance. A poorly tuned car can use as much as 3 to 9 percent more gasoline than a well-tuned one. The tune-up will pay for itself in gasoline savings and car reliability.
Keep the engine air filter clean. Clogged filters waste gasoline.
Use the gasoline octane and oil grade recommended for your car. Most cars run fine on regular. Regular grade fuel costs 10 percent less than premium grade. Look for the best price and limit purchases when prices are high.
Check tire pressure regularly. Under-inflated tires increase gasoline consumption. Every pound of pressure under the recommended pounds per square inch can cause a 2 percent loss in fuel economy.
Where it is available, public transportation may be the least expensive way to commute. One person switching from driving alone to riding the bus or train to work can reduce transportation costs up to $1,500 annually.
Regularly sharing rides to work with a coworker can effectively cut commuting costs in half.

For the complete list of "Saving Green on Gasoline" information and tips, visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/savinggreen.htm.

House Adds Special Rebate Tax-Free Holiday
JEFFERSON CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), March 16, 2008 - House Ways and Means Committee has passed legislation that would establish the Show-Me Green Tax Holiday and that would create a tax-free holiday to make the economic stimulus checks that Missourians will soon receive go even further.

In a statement, Governor Blunt said, "The Show-Me Green Tax Holiday not only will save Missouri's families money, but will help lower their monthly energy bills and help protect our environment. I also strongly support the House's addition of the economic stimulus tax-free holiday to help families benefit even more from the economic stimulus rebates they will be receiving."

House Bill 2250, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sutherland, would create the Show-Me Green Tax Holiday Act authorizing a state sales tax exemption on the purchase of energy efficient products costing $1,500 or less. The sales tax holiday would be held during a seven-day period each year. The types of energy-efficient products that would be tax exempt would include dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, ceiling fans, light bulbs, dehumidifiers, and programmable thermostats that meet or exceed the requirements of the federal Energy Star Program.

The legislation also establishes a one-time sales tax holiday to help benefit Missouri families by exempting all items $600 or less from state and local sales taxes June 27 through June 29, 2008. The sales tax holiday would follow the delivery of stimulus rebate checks to Missouri taxpayers from the federal government.

Web Portal Provides Central Location for Environmental Assistance
KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), March 16, 2008 - If someone were dumping waste tires on your property, would you know who to call? What if you were a community leader in charge of upgrading a water treatment plant or a business owner who didn't know how to apply for environmental permits?

Finding answers to environmental questions or concerns is now easier with a new community assistance Web portal available on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/assistance/. This Web page consolidates links to the environmental information that Missourians most often need. With just one click, users can:

Obtain information about grants and loans;
Find out more about the permitting process;
Access environmental tools and resources;
Learn more about Missouri's environmental laws and regulations;
Contact various programs and divisions within the department;
Access the department's calendar of meetings and events;
Sign up to receive e-mail updates from the department; and
Learn more about the department's partnerships.

"Chasing down information that's scattered and disorganized isn't a good use of anyone's time or resources," said Doyle Childers, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "Having all this information available in a central Web site is an important time saver for the communities, businesses and citizens that we serve."

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