[ Article reposted from rec.motorcycles,ba.motorcycles ]
[ Author was Caerus ]
[ Posted on Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:13:28 +0000 (UTC) ]

Excert from AP Wire, Monday October 10, 2005

KEN THOMAS

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - When gas prices soared after Hurricane Katrina,
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson looked at the Lincoln Navigator
that ferries him around his home state and thought about the
message he was sending.

The large sport utility vehicle doesn't get the best gas
mileage - about 15 miles per gallon. So the former U.S. energy
secretary decided to switch to a Ford Escape hybrid, which
combines gasoline and electric power for twice that mileage.

"You need to practice what you preach," Richardson said.

Rugged SUVs have been a popular choice for governors on
the move, providing plenty of security, extra legroom and
space for staff members. But with gas prices hovering
near $3 a gallon, some governors are trading in their
gas-guzzlers and asking state employees to cut back on
unnecessary travel.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has been using a white Ford Escape
hybrid after Katrina, keeping his Ford Expedition parked
when he travels around Tallahassee. The hybrid goes
hand-in-hand with Bush's recent push for alternative fuels.

"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 6- to 8-mile per gallon clip,"
Bush said last month.

Two Midwest governors, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and
Tom Vilsack of Iowa, are shifting to SUVs that run on E85,
a gas-ethanol blend. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne started
using an E85 Chevrolet Suburban after helping open a
pump for the alternative fuel in Boise.

Pawlenty, who is awaiting a black Chevy Suburban,
considered getting a hybrid. He chose an ethanol-powered
SUV because he couldn't find a hybrid large enough to
accommodate himself, three family members, security,
equipment and staff members.


http://tinyurl.com/bldc5