At the October 3, 2006 meeting of the Provo Municipal Council, a presentation was made by Provo resident Harry McKinley on ways to reduce our reliance on gasoline. Subsequently, the Mayor and Municipal Council adopted this proclamation offering several important recommendations that all drivers in Provo could follow to reduce our fuel consumption.

Fuel Conservation Proclamation

Whereas, Provo City has demonstrated a consistent commitment to conservation of resources in all areas but with particular emphasis in fuel economies, with state of the art practices in the regulation of traffic signals and traffic monitoring, and the reduction in usage of city fleet vehicles in order to prudently limit our use of oil-based products and to assist the community in doing the same, and

Whereas, fuel prices are at historic highs with damaging impacts on individual, family, community and national resources, and

Whereas, in the great tradition of American grassroots activists a citizen proposal has come forward advocating that individual citizens band together in a voluntary effort to limit the United States dependence on foreign oil and pouring U.S. dollars into the coffers of unfriendly nations, and

Whereas, the following measures practiced consistently on a broad-scale basis as advocated by Mr. Harry McKinley, could have a significant impact on the consumption of oil from foreign nations

• Driving below 60 mph – boosts fuel efficiency up to 23% averaging savings of about $240.00 per year.
• Avoiding rapid breaking and accelerating boosts fuel efficiency up to 33% averaging savings of $330 per year.
• Proper maintenance – a tuned engine and properly inflated tires boosts fuel efficiency up to 40% for a savings of up to $375 per year.
• More walking and biking. Over 60% of vehicle trips in the U.S. are under a mile. By leaving the car in the garage we would save at least 1l4 million gallons of gasoline at an average value of $3.7 million a day.

Now, therefore, I, Lewis K. Billings, Mayor of the City of Provo together with the Municipal Council of Provo do hereby promote and encourage the residents of Provo to consider the above noted recommendations and review their own patterns of fuel consumption in context of the personal economies that can be derived from making such changes as well as the benefit to several important state and national issues including the reduction of our dependence on foreign oil and a cleaner environment.