Fresh Loaf

Gov. Sonny Perdue this morning suspended a scheduled increase of the state gas tax.

“Frankly I don’t think we can justify raising tax on gas at a time of economic stress on families,” he said.

The increase would have occurred July 1 and raised gasoline 2.9 cents per gallon to 13.9 cents. It’ll now hold tight at 11 cents per gallon. Taxes on diesel, aviation gasoline, propane and compressed natural gas would’ve raised prices to 16.5 cents, 20.9 cents, 8.2 cents and 13.8 cents per gallon, respectively. Perdue estimates the suspension will save Georgians $70-80 million dollars. That also means it’ll cost the state the same amount for transportation projects that the tax revenues fund. The suspension stands until the next legislative session in January.

“I hope we can send a clear signal to Georgians that we understand the strain on families’ budgets by high gas prices and we are doing all we can from the state’s perspective to address that,” he said.

Yet the solutions Perdue offered were akin to sticking bubble gum in a leaky dam.

“I think it’s time we seriously looked as a nation at drilling on our own land and becoming more independent from that perspective while we search for alternative energies for the future,” he says. “I’m persuaded we’ve got great reserves here that we can bring to the market very quickly rather than being held hostage from the international perspective.”

When asked if he’d consider a switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids both for his personal transport and the state’s fleet of vehicles — Perdue politely said he already travels light.

“We look at that occasionally,” he said. “What I find is that is more political fluff and messaging than effect in that area. I’ve seen people do it. I see them ride a little car for a little while and then they’re back in big vehicles after a while. I think the very fact in the whole Conserve Georgia effort we’re trying to build a cultural aspect of really only driving as much as you need… I travel pretty lightly as most of you know. We don’t send out two or three vehicles as most other [states] do. We’re obviously encouraging our departments to use the size vehicles they need.”

Andisheh Nouraee of Decatur says the governor’s suspension will save him 33.6 cents per week. “That’s an extra three pieces of spearmint gum per week. I think my co-workers will be pleased with that. Particularly on hummus day.”

Not once during this morning’s press conference did Perdue mention rail options or possible state assistance to MARTA. Georgia is the only state in the country to not offer funding to its largest metropolitan area’s main transit system.

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Sounds strange, but bear with me.

J.C. Bell, an agricultural researcher who lives in Tifton, recently made Internet headlines as the mysterious man who holds the answers to the nation’s energy problems. He didn’t shoot a hole in the ground and up came a’bubblin’ crude. He stood downwind from a gassy cow and smelled opportunity.

“Let me tell you, cows have a great ability to make gas,” Bell says during a phone interview.

The key to the cow’s talent, he says, is a bacteria living in its body that produces hydrocarbon. When it interacts with waste, it produces gas. After four years of under-the-radar research, Bell says he’s identified the bacteria and now plans to genetically modify and produce it on a mass scale, and in turn use it to convert waste into fuel. Bell’s operation is building several pilot plants and production facilities capable of pumping our 500-1,000 barrels per day from each.

He says the result, which he hopes to see by October next year, wouldn’t require a change in the energy infrastructure. Unlike electric cars, which would necessitate a sweeping retrofit of charging stations and a reexamination of the power grid, Bell claims his idea could be pumped directly into your gas tank. It wouldn’t replace our need for fossil fuels, he says, but it would ease our dependence on them. (more…)

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Mrs. Winner’s gives you gas:

Mrs. Winner’s Chicken Kicks Off “Free Gas For A Year” Promotion

Customers register to win at participating Atlanta restaurants
ANNOUNCEMENT:
ATLANTA, GA (May 9, 2008) – Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits announced on April 24th that for a limited time it is offering a “Free Gas for a Year” promotion to provide its customers some relief from the rising cost of gas throughout the Metro Atlanta area. (more…)

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Proving that Gov. Sonny Perdue and Sen. John McCain are kindred spirits destined to be together, the Man From Bonair signed an executive order this morning suspending the state gas tax on diesel fuel sold for such off-road purposes as agriculture and timber farming. It stands until the 2009 legislative session, by which time Perdue will be just receiving his Vice Presidential letterhead and monogrammed bathrobe.

Says the governor:

“Our farmers have borne the brunt of this multi-year drought, and now face record fuel prices during our planting season. Suspending this tax will bring needed relief to our state’s largest industry.”

A word from the gentleman with the coolest name in Georgia (emphasis added).

“Suspension of the sales tax on off road diesel fuel would help farmers, it would promote a major segment of our state’s economy, and it would allow for more money to be spent in local rural economies,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall wrote in a letter to the Governor.

The suspension is estimated to offset state revenues by $2 million to $4 million.

Full text of the executive order after the jump.

(more…)

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Two nights ago, I spoke with a friend in France who said that while she feels sorry for us Americans and our shock about high gas prices, the collective opinion of Europeans is “welcome to the club.” We’re finally paying the true cost of energy as they always have and — shock! — it’s a lot.

And in metro Atlanta, where decades of inaction on public transit has been almost a badge of honor for shortsighted legislators, people are realizing how woefully underfunded one of the best alternatives is now that they need it the most.

(more…)

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