In an automobile market flooded with SUVs, there is growing
interest in cars that are less polluting. According to a March 13, 2003 Wall Street
Journal article, car dealers from around the country report more demand for
hybrid cars than supply.
Fleet operators are purchasing cleaner fuel alternatives and purchasing vehicles
produced to run on these new fuels. FedEx is testing hybrid technology in its
delivery fleet, while UPS is testing fuel cell engines in theirs.
Taxpayers are questioning expensive public infrastructure that supports private
cars. At the same time, anti-sprawl activists and urban advocates have raised
awareness of the benefits of compact and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
Eco-tourism emerged at the end of the 1980s and consumer interest in hiking,
biking, kayaking and camping remain high. A study by the International Hotels
Environment Initiative revealed that 70 percent of Americans will pay $50 to $150
more per week to stay in an environmentally-friendly hotel.
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