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TRANSPORTATION CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS

Roughly half of all the energy used in California is used by the transportation sector. We use more than 16.5 billion gallons of gasoline a year. That's enough to drive a car, getting 30 mpg, three round trips to the sun and back.

We all know to turn off lights when we leave a room, and we all know about recycling beverage containers. But few of us think twice about hoping in the car for a quick trip to the market and then another trip to the bank and then another trip to the clothing store. And we rarely think about the cost of a gallon of gasoline or diesel unless the prices get too high.

With record high gasoline and diesel prices in 2005, many people were thinking twice about the choices they have when it comes to transportation. This section will help you understand the choices you can make in the vehicle you buy, the fuel it uses, how you drive, and the way you travel to school or work.

Did You Know?

Californians consume more than 16.5 billion gallons of gasoline each year!


Half of ALL the energy used by Californians is in the transportation sector.


In 2004, 42 percent of the oil we used in California came from in-state sources, 22 percent came from Alaska, and 36 percent came from foreign sources.


Nationally, more than 60 percent of the oil our country uses comes from foreign sources.


Eighty-two percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our vehicles.
Source: U.S. EPA Energy Star website - useful facts & figures www.energystar.gov/
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