http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=051607&story=tp1ch6.htm&folder=NewsArchive2
05/16/07 Fuel follies E-mails urging gas boycott have little effect There's a Shakespeare quote for practically any occasion. But you don't even need to look past the table of contents to find the title of a Shakespeare play that fits Tuesday's Internet-driven gasoline "boycott." Try this: "Much Ado About Nothing." Local petroleum retailers were either unwilling to talk for the record or -- much more common -- totally unaware of an e-mail campaign urging consumers to strike a blow against oil companies by not buying gasoline on May 15. One of the few who was paying attention to the so-called "gas-out" was Alex Patel, manager of Ted's Food Mart, 22700 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte. "Customers have been coming in normally," Patel said. He added that he had heard about the e-mails, but hadn't given them much credence. At least some consumers were aware of the boycott. "You know, I read something in the paper about that. And if I would have remembered, I would have participated. But I needed the truck today," said Rowlyn Eckert, of Punta Gorda, while fueling at the Race Trac station in Charlotte Harbor. "If you need gas, there's not much you can do," said Barry Googins, as he filled his van at a Sunoco station in Englewood. Among the many logical gaps in what's basically a chain letter is any explanation of how a one-day boycott is going to force prices down. Especially since demand for petroleum products is relatively inelastic -- people have to drive, and nothing takes the place of gasoline for this purpose. It can be assumed that any gasoline purchases that weren't made Tuesday will simply be delayed until whenever the needle is fluttering on "E." "It's kind of an urban legend," said Greg Laskoski, spokesman for AAA Auto Club South. "There are claims that it first was tried 10 years ago and was effective. But our information says that's not true." This year, "we don't believe this effort will yield any measurable result," Laskoski continued. "The reason is simple. We're not changing any consumption patterns. This e-mail or boycott is simply trying to change purchasing patterns. The same amount of gasoline could be expected to be purchased -- just on a different day." Still, nothing puts fear into American consumers than gas prices. Even those who are too young to remember the gas lines of the 1970s understand that dependence on foreign oil is the great weakness of the U.S. economy. Whoever's promoting gasoline boycotts lacks even the most elementary understanding about how global petroleum markets function, said David Mica, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Council. "The worst they could accomplish is hurting a local dealer, if they boycott an individual station. But the global supply of oil is internationally traded -- and demand is at a peak level," Mica said. It's understandable that consumers are unhappy about $3-plus gasoline as the Memorial Day weekend approaches. But Mica noted that high prices make it more attractive for petroleum companies to explore new technologies that might help stabilize prices in the future. The industry-wide trend is that the yield of gasoline from a barrel of crude oil is gradually increasing, all thanks to new technology. Meanwhile, crude futures are holding in the mid-$60 range. Although perhaps offering less emotional satisfaction than a boycott that promises to "stick it" to oil companies, there are a number of practical measures that consumers can take to make the most out of each fill-up. And they've even been vetted by the AAA. Consolidate your trips. Don't gun the engine. Observe the speed limit. Avoid quick stops and starts. Change your air and fuel filters. Keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specs. "One of the most simple common-sense items is to lighten your load. People drive around with a ton of junk in their trunks -- like golf clubs back there, which they use maybe once a year," Laskoski said. Staff photographers Sarah Coward and Molly Dempsey contributed to this story By BOB FLISS Charlotte Business Editor
