Petro Reserves

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) won't be receiving any more oil in the coming months. A bill to suspend the diversion of 70,000 barrels of oil a day into the U.S. reserve passed on Tuesday May 13, 2008. Passing with enough votes to avoid a presidential veto the measure will suspend any additions to the SPR until the end of 2008 or until the price per barrel drops to $75. 46 Republicans broke from the Bush Administration and helped pass the bill unanimously with a vote of 92-6. There is still a disagreement, however, of whether or not this suspension will reduce the burden of high gas prices on the consumer. The reality is, 70,000 barrels makes up a very small percentage of the 85 million barrel demand per day worldwide. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

Travel Survey

The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) will be polling over 1,500 Vermont households over the next year. This 40 year old survey is designed to provide data on the public's use of the transportation system. As an attachment to the national survey, The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center (TRC) have partnered with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect more detailed travel data for Vermont. The TRC, among other tasks, will be in charge of providing summary results of the data specific to Vermont as it becomes available. In total the DOT survey will collect travel behavior information from 150,000 households nationwide. Vermont is one of 19 "add-on" areas for this years NHTS. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

U.S. Confrontation & the Price of Oil

If disagreements between the U.S. and Venezuela persist will Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cut oil exports to the U.S.? Phil Flynn, an analyst with Alaron Trading Corp., says this is more than a possibility. If the OPEC member nation were to cut the U.S. off from direct exports the U.S. would likely still receive Venezuelan oil through middlemen. Nevertheless, oil prices would certainly soar. In the meantime crude oil prices are continuing to rise and break records. $126 a barrel was the new record set on Friday May 9th. As the price per gallon of gasoline in Vermont inches toward $4, the price per barrel of crude oil is tinkering around $125. People in some regions of the U.S. including parts of California are already experiencing gas prices above $4 a gallon. [Source: Washington Post]

Bicycles in the Spotlight

The production of cars often ends up in the American spotlight, but what about the production of bicycles? In 2007 the number of bicycles made worldwide was twice the number of cars. During the 1990's and early 2000's bike production slowed down, but with increased concern for the environment, human health, and the price of driving, bike production is soaring. 130 million bicycles were produced in 2007 compared to the 52 million cars produced. Although biking is still underused for transportation in the U.S. accounting for only 0.9 percent of all trips, U.S. cities are looking to kick this trend and hope to double their bicycle and pedestrian routes in the coming years. In European cities, like Copenhagen, 36 percent of their commuters bike to work. [Source: Earth Policy Institute]

Public Transit: A National Trend

It is no surprise that public transportation ridership continues to rise. In larger metropolitan areas in the northeast where mass transit systems have long been in place ridership has increased by 5 percent. In places like Boston and New York 5 percent is no small number, nevertheless, people in these cities are rather accustomed to public transit. It is the cities in the west and south where people have typically been less likely to get out of their cars that the rise in transit ridership is even more significant - 10 to 15 percent. Public transportation ridership in more rural areas also continues to rise significantly. Stagecoach Transportation that serves Vermont and New Hampshire has seen increases on its predominant commuter routes rise 20 to 50 percent. With these increases Americans will likely consume slightly less gasoline this year than last - the first yearly decline since 1991. [Sources: New York Times & Concord Monitor]

Way to Go!

Way to Go week in Vermont was the way to go. With beautiful weather gracing the Green Mountain State last week, by Wednesday those participating had already reduced green house gas emissions by 200,000 lbs. Although not quite at the goal of 500,000 lbs Vermonters were well on their way at mid week. With over 567 organizations and 2,738 people participating Way to Go participation has increased by leaps and bounds over the years. Way to Go saw an increase of nearly 1,000 people involved this year over last and more than 2,000 more registrants this year than in 2005. Thanks to each of the 2,738 participants it is estimated that 9,640 gallons of gas were saved equaling a savings of approximately $35,000 (based on the average current gas prices). To learn more visit Way to Go. [Sources: Times Argus & Boston Globe]

In Other Vermont Transportation News...

Hybrid NASCAR

Hybrids don't necessarily have to be just gas friendly commuter cars... [Source: UVM Communications]

A Glimpse into Transportation at Large...

Save the Oil Companies
The American Petroleum Institute is determined to brighten the image of oil companies. The institute has announced it will do so with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign over the next few years. [Source: Washington Post]



Grease Thieves
Not long ago businesses had to pay to get rid of waste grease, now they have to protect it from organized crooks. [Source: Biofuels Digest]



Ethanol Brew Kit
Why go to the gas station when you can brew your own ethanol? [Source:Reuters]



Toyota Stock
The world's second largest automaker, Toyota, is seeing profits drop. [Source: Bloomberg]



Tougher Emission Standards
Arizona will toughen tailpipe emission rules. [Source: Arizona Central]

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont


This Week (May 7-13) = $3.671/gallon
Last Week (April 30 - May 6) = $3.609/gallon
Last Year (May 1-13) = $2.948/gallon



Crude Oil Futures


This Week (May 7-13) = $124.64/barrel
Last Week (April 30 - May 6) = $116.82/barrel