The Department of Energy Should Provide Leadership To Assure Near-Term Gasoline Conservation Opportunities Are Realized

Gao ID: EMD-81-52 April 13, 1981

Gasoline conservation can play an important role in the next few years in helping reduce the Nation's dependence on foreign oil. Even though gasoline consumption has decreased over the past 2 years, additional gasoline savings are possible by accelerating improvements in vehicle fleet fuel efficiency, applying fuel-efficient driving practices, and reducing the number of vehicle miles driven. GAO examined the Department of Energy's (DOE) programs that promote gasoline savings by educating drivers about these conservation opportunities.

DOE programs designed to encourage near-term gasoline conservation savings lack overall direction and focus and, while they may individually address appropriate conservation opportunities, together they are not part of any overall strategy. This lack of direction and focus is evidenced by: (1) the DOE programs not supporting the goals DOE has set for near-term gasoline conservation savings; (2) inconsistency between the DOE statements regarding the importance of such savings and the low priority DOE has assigned to the area; and (3) the failure of DOE to perform adequate program evaluations.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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