Why is This Important?

Motor vehicles are the largest source of pollution in San Mateo County, impacting both air and water quality. On-road transportation accounts for more than half of the county’s total carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change. High fuel costs can have a major impact on household budgets through direct spending on transportation, and indirect price increases on other goods and services.

What is a Sustainable State?

A sustainable state is one that is carbon neutral and where alternative fuels or modes of transportation are available so that high fuel prices do not severely impact a household’s ability to purchase essential items.

How Are We Doing?

· Total on-road fuel consumption in San Mateo County declined slightly in 2009 to 329 million gallons of fuel, a reduction of about 2 percent. Overall, on-road fuel consumption has declined about 14 percent since its peak in 2000 of 383 million gallons.

· Per capita fuel consumption has declined even more significantly over the last decade. In 2009, each county resident used about 438 gallons of fuel on average. In 2000, per capita consumption stood at 539 gallons per year, or about 23 percent higher.

· The reduction in total gasoline usage is primarily due to a reduction in overall vehicle miles traveled on county roadways (down 12 percent since 2002).

· Gasoline prices in the Bay Area averaged $2.69 per gallon in 2009, a significant decrease from 2008 (about 24 percent lower). After adjusting for in ation, gasoline prices in the Bay Area have increased by 35 percent since 1994.

· The county’s 2009 average vehicle fuel economy was 19.6 miles per gallon, a slight increase from 2008. Of note, the average fuel economy of county vehicles is higher than the national average (17.4 miles per gallon).

· Combustion of gasoline on county roads accounts for more than half of carbon dioxide emissions countywide. Each year, on-road vehicles generate about 3 million metric tons of carbon equivalent into the atmosphere. (See also: Carbon Dioxide Emissions).