Follow-up to Oral Testimony ‘Hearing to Examine the Rise of Domestic Energy Prices’

This statement from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to Senator Olympia Snowe proposes a series of short-term measures to reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9%. RMI argues that such a reduction would stabilize global oil prices by increasing excess capacity to between 2.5 and 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby mitigating the impact of price shocks and speculation.

• RMI proposes a set of immediate measures that could reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9% over approximately one year, which would translate to a global demand reduction of 1.0 to 1.8 million barrels per day (1.2% to 2.1% of global consumption).
• To stabilize oil prices and absorb shocks from weather or terror, RMI states that an excess capacity of 3.0 to 3.5 million barrels per day is required, whereas only 1.5 to 2.0 million barrels per day currently exists.
• Proposed gasoline-specific measures to eliminate 4–8% of U.S. gasoline (2–4% of crude) include reducing speed limits for non-Class 8 vehicles to 60 MPH, expanding HOV lane access to hybrids and electric vehicles, and fixing the CAFE standard loophole for vehicles over 8,500 lbs.
• To reduce diesel consumption by 12–18% (1–2% of crude), RMI suggests reducing heavy truck speed limits to 55 MPH, raising the federal Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GWVR) to 110,000 lbs, allowing double and triple-trailer combinations nationwide, and mandating Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on new Class 8 tractors.
• General measures for both gasoline and diesel to eliminate 4–6% of fuel (2–3% of crude) include procuring federal road-based civilian vehicles from the top 5% most efficient in their sub-class, improving city traffic light timing, and adopting electronic tolling and congestion charges.
• To reduce Jet A fuel by 1% in the first year (0.1% of crude), RMI recommends that the FAA mandate single-engine idling during ground-holds and provide loan guarantees for airlines to replace inefficient planes with models like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
• Supply-side recommendations include the GSA signing long-term contracts for E85 biofuel blends for up to 30% of fuel requirements, expanding renewable fuel loan guarantees, and encouraging the adoption of 'total-flex' vehicle technology used in Brazil.

APA

RMI (2005). Follow-up to Oral Testimony ‘Hearing to Examine the Rise of Domestic Energy Prices’. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_Letter-to-Senator-Snowe-Short-term-measures-for-Crude.pdf

Chicago

RMI. Follow-up to Oral Testimony ‘Hearing to Examine the Rise of Domestic Energy Prices’. 2005. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_Letter-to-Senator-Snowe-Short-term-measures-for-Crude.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=RMI |title=Follow-up to Oral Testimony ‘Hearing to Examine the Rise of Domestic Energy Prices’ |date=30 September 2005 |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_Letter-to-Senator-Snowe-Short-term-measures-for-Crude.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rmi2005followup, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Follow-up to Oral Testimony ‘Hearing to Examine the Rise of Domestic Energy Prices’}}, publisher = {RMI}, year = {2005}, month = sep, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_Letter-to-Senator-Snowe-Short-term-measures-for-Crude.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }