Texas one of the most ‘oil-vulnerable’ states

Texans spend lots on gasoline

Steve Hawley, Aug 13, 09.

Texas is the seventh-most “oil-vulnerable” state, according to a new study reported in the Houston Business Journal. The designation means that the state “stands to be affected most by fluctuations in oil prices and the implementation of clean-energy transportation programs,” according to the article. The study was produced by the National Resources Defense Council and the environmental law firm David Gardiner & Associates, LLC.

The average Texan spends $2,622.05 per year - 6.8 percent of his or her income - on gasoline, according to the study. Mississippi is the most oil-vulnerable state, while Connecticut is the least oil-vulnerable.

The report outlines several strategies that states can pursue to lessen their vulnerability, including switching to cleaner cars and fuels, implementing smart growth policies, and investing in public transit. It notes, “States can reduce oil dependence by integrating land use and transportation policies and designing them to reduce vehicle-miles traveled and promote alternatives to driving.”

At the federal level, the report says that lawmakers must “enact strong energy policies,” including capping greenhouse gas emissions and “fundamentally [reforming] transportation policy.” It states:

Since the Interstate Highway System was completed, there has been no compelling, binding vision for federal transportation policy. Congress must enact national transportation legislation that includes: incentives for smart, transit-oriented development; assistance for states and regions to save oil; and ample funding for energy-efficient transportation alternatives, including rail and bus lines, bike paths, and sidewalks.

Full oil-vulnerability rankings

Complete report: Ranking States’ Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for Change (pdf, 1.1 mb)