WASHINGTON -- The states in which drivers are most at risk to high gasoline prices increases are Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Indiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Iowa, according to a new report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Drivers in the most vulnerable state—Mississippi—spend an average of more than 8% of their income on gasoline; that is 3.17% of income spent by residents of Connecticut, the least vulnerable state.
States doing the most to promote energy-saving policies to reduce their oil dependency and protect [image-nocss] their residents from oil price spikes are California, New York, Connecticut, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Colorado and Maryland.
"Fighting Oil Addiction: Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability & Solutions for Change" highlights two critical areas related to the nation's addiction to oil: vulnerability to high oil prices and implementation by states of alternatives and solutions. The oil vulnerability ranking is based on the average percentage of income that states' drivers spend on gasoline.
States that adopt laws promoting clean and efficient vehicles and investing in public transit are helping protect their citizens from high oil prices.
"This report shows that when oil prices go up, families in some states are hit much harder than others because they are paying a greater percentage of their income at the gas pump," said Deron Lovaas, transportation policy director at NRDC. "The good news is that some states are enacting policies that give consumers vehicle and transportation choices. But more states need to do the same and federal policymakers must follow suit, by boosting fuel economy standards, supporting a firm limit on global warming pollution and investing in more efficient transportation alternatives like commuter rail."The report underscores that what we drive, how often we drive, and what energy we use are at the core of America's 21-million-barrel-per-day oil habit. America's addiction to oil continues to threaten our economic viability, national security and global environmental health.It outlines solutions to reduce oil vulnerability and protect citizens from increases in gas prices, and highlights which states have adopted policies that provide alternatives to driving long distances in inefficient vehicles filled with conventional gasoline. These solutions are policies that promote clean cars, clean energy, research and development, and smart growth and public transit can help insulate consumers from volatile gas prices.
The NRDC is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members.
Click hereto view the full report.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.