Governors park their SUVs as gas prices soar

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 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.

"Our country has been asleep at the switch on these things," Pawlenty said. "The basic economics are that the supply of fossil fuels is limited and the demand is outstripping the supply. It's a recipe for continued crisis if we don't start changing our ways."

Maine Gov. John Baldacci, meanwhile, has left the SUV world altogether. He now uses an unmarked sedan such as a Chevrolet Impala instead of a Suburban.

"This is a small, humble step the governor has taken to demonstrate that everyone can take small steps to save energy," said Baldacci spokesman Lynn Kippax.

While largely symbolic, the shifting away from large SUVs is part of a broader message of conservation after two major hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast, shutting down oil rigs and refineries.