ON THE ISSUES: Energy BLOOMINGTON - Michael Bryan doesn't like breaking into his piggy bank to pay for gas. "I shouldn't have to do this," said the 35-year-old from Bloomington, who barely makes enough to pay the $450 monthly rent for his utilities-furnished apartment and keep his car running.

While he typically went through a half tank of gas a week, recent unemployment from a fast-food job and new job searches have caused him to use three-quarters of a tank a week.

As the presidential election nears, Bryan is among those wanting to know what politicians will do for his pocketbook. "They are out of touch and need to give us a break (on gas prices)," said Bryan.

Nationwide, fuel costs are fluctuating widely as Americans prepare for higher winter heating costs and wonder how alternative energy can help pare costs and help the environment.

Renee Vaughn also struggles to keep enough fuel in her car. She takes her ailing husband to the doctor twice a week and is raising a 15-year-old daughter and 4-year-old granddaughter.

The working poor such as Bryan and Vaughn are among those hurt worst by rising costs for fuel, heating oil and natural gas while talk continues on alternative energy sources such as wind power.

Jeremy Benjamin, who lives within a half-mile of the Twin Groves Wind Farm, was a bit apprehensive when wind towers began going up near his Ellsworth home.

Now, he's among those seeing wind power as the wave of the future. "It's kind of neat. It's like sci-fi," Benjamin said.

His Ellsworth neighbor, Renee Shaw, is an unabashed fan of wind power and has two towers on her land. "Wind power will save money in the long run," she said.

For now, more conventional energy still plays a part in her daily life. Shaw tries to drive less because filling up her large truck costs $125.

It doesn't cost Bryan that much to fill up, but he has still used rent money and money from savings to buy gas.

He hopes for a return of the days when gas was under $2 a gallon.

"I try not to drive a lot. I can't always fill up," said Bryan.

He does his best to earn extra money, but his options are limited with a high school GED. Still, he collects soda cans, earning 60 cents a pound, and tries to share rides to food pantries and church.

It's tough on Vaughn as well, as family obligations have forced her to take leave from her job as a school bus driver. At the moment, she's worried about how winter heating bills will affect her pocketbook.

Meanwhile, despite his proximity to the wind farm, when Benjamin - like most Americans - talks about energy, it's mainly about gas for his tank.

"I just try to make fewer trips into town," he said.

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Where the candidates stand

Highlights of plans by presidential candidates Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

Energy

• McCain: Expand domestic oil and natural gas exploration and production; break dependency on foreign oil by reforming transportation sector; invest in clean, alternative sources of energy; protect environment by addressing climate change; promote energy efficiency; address speculative pricing of oil.

• Obama: Increase fuel economy standards; get 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015; create a $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles; establish a national low carbon fuel standard; a "use it or lose it" approach to existing oil and gas leases; promote responsible domestic production of oil and natural gas.

SOURCES: www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/, www.barackobama.com/issues/