Pump up conservation

How high's the gas price, Mama?

Almost three bucks high and rising.

How high's the gas price, Papa?

Almost three bucks high and rising.

In the past couple of weeks, the cost of a fill-up may have temporarily displaced real estate as the main topic of South Florida water-cooler and backyard-barbecue conversations. Statewide, gasoline prices are up 20 cents in just a month. The average price of unleaded is nearly 33 percent higher than a year ago. And as with the heat, there's no relief in sight.

So it was confusing and frustrating for Americans last week to see President Bush sign an energy bill that even he and other supporters acknowledge won't do much to lower fuel costs. One reason is that the bill will do almost nothing to promote energy conservation. And now, the Bush administration seems prepared to do even less.

According to The New York Times, the White House wants to exempt Hummers and other supersized sport-utility vehicles from higher fuel economy regulations. The federal government is preparing new standards for the light-truck category into which these vehicles fall. American automakers have a monopoly on this perhaps declining market, which foreign competitors have not entered.

At the same time, roughly 44 percent of America's daily oil consumption goes for gasoline. Any sensible approach to energy would include a phased-in but strong increase in vehicle fuel mileage. This would be true even if gas prices begin to come down after the summer travel rush and the by-now predictable refinery problems. It's the only idea we got left that'll float.