As Georgians plan their long holiday weekend, gas prices are bound to be on their minds whether they'll be driving or staying home to save money.

Gas is also in the thinking of the five candidates for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Though they have different proposals, all plan to use a mix of tax incentives and subsidies to nudge the country away from dependence on imported petroleum and toward reliance on renewable fuels.

Those vying for the nomination July 15 include Dale Cardwell, Vernon Jones, Rand Knight, Josh Lanier and Jim Martin. The winner will face Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

Gas tax holiday
The Democrats uniformly oppose lifting the federal tax on gasoline for the summer, as suggested by Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

"It's a fraud and part of the old Washington con game of 'free money' in an election year." Lanier said.

However, Lanier would lower the tax rate on profits made through selling stock in alterative-energy start-ups.

Domestic drilling
All the Democrats oppose drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Knight notes that it would take years to see production from any new wells and that the projected output would amount to only 4 percent of U.S. demand.

Cardwell, Knight and Martin categorically reject drilling along the U.S. coast.

However, Lanier and Jones don't oppose additional drilling in all circumstances. Lanier said he would approve it on the coast if "it supports our national interest, energy security and in consultation with states."

Jones notes that more than 60 million acres are already federally approved for drilling but have had no activity.

"Although environmentally safe drilling is an option, I strongly disagree with (President) Bush, McCain, and Chambliss to end the 27-year moratorium on off-shore drilling," Jones said.

Subsidies for renewable fuels

Martin, Knight and Cardwell all mentioned ending subsidies and tax breaks available to oil companies and shifting the money in some form to spur research into renewable fuels like wind, solar and ethanol made from Georgia pines.

Knight offers what he calls his Green Deal plan that includes a $50 billion fund to subsidize research that would be funded by oil companies.

"Oil companies will be given a choice: they can either invest in tangible, renewable-energy research and implementation themselves, or they can pay into the fund." he says.

On the other hand, Martin would target those who use energy.

"We should offer tax credits to consumers and businesses that buy more fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicles," he said.

Jones said it was premature for him to discuss specific tax incentives while the federal budget remains in crisis.

Conservation
Martin and Lanier would have the federal government raise the average mileage requirements for car makers.

Martin would also offer tax incentives to business and consumers who install and use more efficient technologies.

Lanier lower the price of fuel-efficient cars funded by a penalty for inefficiency.

"The incentive would be paid for by penalty fees on purchases of gas guzzlers," he said. "There would be no policy cost to the average Georgian."

He also favors reducing the speed limits to save gas, as was done during the gas crisis of the 1970s, though he admits to driving his own SUV fast.

Financial conditions
Only Cardwell mentioned the idea of setting up price supports for domestic oil.

"I would consider placing a 'floor' on gas prices to ensure that we do not lose our resolve to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil," he said.

Cardwell and Jones each recommended Congress take steps to discourage speculators from manipulating the price of oil future contracts for their own gain.