CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia is among the states doing the least to protect its residents from high gas prices, according to a national environmental group report issued Tuesday.

The Natural Resources Defense Council ranked West Virginia the seventh worst state in the nation in terms of actions to try to reduce oil dependence.

At the same time, West Virginians are among the Americans most at risk from high gasoline prices and their dependence on oil.

The NRDC report ranked West Virginia 11th in the country in terms of percentage of annual income spent on gasoline by the average driver.

NRDC officials noted that West Virginia has not adopted incentives for driving hybrid vehicles, vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards, or idling restrictions.

The state also does not sponsor grants for research on vehicle fuels, and has no low-carbon fuel standard or incentives for clean fuels fueling stations.

Also, West Virginia does not have "smart growth" policies such as a vehicle-miles traveled reduction target, a state mechanism for coordinated development, a growth management act, and ranks low in terms of transit spending on public transportation programs.

A spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin said that such programs need to be part of a national energy policy.

But the NRDC report found that, "in the absence of strong national policies on issues like oil independence and global warming, states have begun assuming responsibility for promoting less oil-intensive transportation habits."

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia is among the states doing the least to protect its residents from high gas prices, according to a national environmental group report issued Tuesday.

The Natural Resources Defense Council ranked West Virginia the seventh worst state in the nation in terms of actions to try to reduce oil dependence.

At the same time, West Virginians are among the Americans most at risk from high gasoline prices and their dependence on oil.

The NRDC report ranked West Virginia 11th in the country in terms of percentage of annual income spent on gasoline by the average driver.

NRDC officials noted that West Virginia has not adopted incentives for driving hybrid vehicles, vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards, or idling restrictions.

The state also does not sponsor grants for research on vehicle fuels, and has no low-carbon fuel standard or incentives for clean fuels fueling stations.

Also, West Virginia does not have "smart growth" policies such as a vehicle-miles traveled reduction target, a state mechanism for coordinated development, a growth management act, and ranks low in terms of transit spending on public transportation programs.

A spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin said that such programs need to be part of a national energy policy.

But the NRDC report found that, "in the absence of strong national policies on issues like oil independence and global warming, states have begun assuming responsibility for promoting less oil-intensive transportation habits."

The NRDC report said that states that adopt these programs are helping to protect their citizens from high oil prices.

"This report shows that when oil prices go up, families in some states are hit much harder than others because they are paying a greater percentage of their income at the gas pump," said Deron Lovaas, transportation policy director at the NRDC.

"The good news is that some states are enacting policies that give consumers vehicle and transportation choices," Lovaas said. "But more states need to do the same and federal policymakers must follow suit, by boosting federal fuel economy standards, supporting a firm limit on global warming pollution and investing in more efficient transportation alternatives like commuter rail."

Last year, West Virginia finalized a new energy plan, written and approved by the Manchin administration. The plan's goal is to develop a series of new liquid coal plants. Manchin says liquid coal could replace gasoline in vehicles. Critics say the governor's plan would actually increase the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

Matt Turner, Manchin's press secretary, said the governor has worked with lawmakers to halt a January increase in the state's gas tax, and extended the registration period for commercial vehicles by two months "to provide some immediate relief to struggling families and truck drivers."

But, Turner said, said those efforts "are not solutions to high gas prices."

"That will require a long-term effort that includes alternative energy sources, more efficient vehicles, renewable energy and conservation," Turner said in an e-mail response. "Gov. Manchin has said it will take all our resources to achieve energy independence. Until that time, and until the federal government adopts an energy policy that directs us to reach that goal, we can expect that gas prices will continue to fluctuate."

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1702.