transportation facilities, ground and water, to obtain these supplies of petroleum. Any significant cutback in fuel supply to power plants, or to the water and ground transportation facilities supplying these plants, would cause drastic and disastrous reductions in these vital power supplies. A very few power plants have the capability of utilizing natural gas in place of petroleum products, but there is little advantage therein inasmuch as the supply of natural gas is as inadequate for that purpose as is the supply of petroleum products.
2. In determining decreases in allocations of fuel to the states, it is imperative that careful consideration be given to the population growth factor. Florida is one of the Fastest growing States in the nation, principally due to its climate, and based on 1972 figures what might appear to be a reasonable percentage of decrease in fuel consumption in other states could be calamitous to Florida in the long run. With an annual 5% increase in population, the initial 10% and eventual 25% reduction in power Supply and consumption requirements would realistically become much greater percentages of reduction if the desired level of consumption is to be attained. It would thus become a punitive, rather than an expedient, measure. In further consideration of the fact that much of our population increase consists of retirees and other elderly people, it should be evident that such an inequitable fuel reduction would result in serious illnesses and even unnecessary fatalities in this category of residents.