Gliders don't use much gas

AOPA On-line reported the following today: A Miami-area glider company will keep flying, thanks to a reprieve from regulators who were demanding a $2 million insurance policy that would have grounded the operation for good. Miami Gliders owner Steve Diehl rallied local lawmakers and other supporters to argue his view that gliders, which use very little fuel, shouldn't require a $2 million policy for environmental hazards. Regulators finally agreed, lowering the insurance requirement to a more manageable $500,000.

I don't know which is more remarkable, the requirement for a $2,000,000 EPA insurance policy or the assertion that gliders don't use much fuel.

They use a 235 HP Piper Pawnee to tow the gliders, so Steve could not very well argue that there was no fuel used in his operation. However, the wording in the article is goofy. I thought perhaps they have a motor-glider, but they don't.
Chuck Shaw