New Fuel Economy Policies are Historic Step Forward for Consumers, Environment, U.S. Energy Security, Says Alliance
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SEE: U.S. Energy Policy: We Need Bold, Obama Gives Same Old
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2009; The Alliance to Save Energy today hailed the Obama administration's new policy establishing a unified national limit on vehicle tailpipe emissions and accelerating by four years an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 miles per gallon for all passenger vehicles as "an historic step forward and a 'win-win-win' for consumers, the environment and U.S. energy security."
The Alliance said the new CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards - 39 mpg for passenger cars and 30 for light trucks - and emissions standards will move the nation measurably closer to the green energy future envisioned by President Obama and shared by the Alliance.
"We congratulate the Obama administration, the auto industry, and the state of California for working together to craft a unified standard for tailpipe emissions and for requiring that all passenger vehicles achieve at least 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "This 'two-front' fuel efficiency policy moves our nation considerably closer to being a world leader in energy efficiency and will achieve measurable benefits for our economy, environment, and energy security.
"Moving up the 'due date' for higher CAFE standards by four years is well within our technical know-how, can strengthen the economy, and meshes well with a stringent national limit on tailpipe emissions," Callahan continued. "And while the requirements will reportedly up the price of a new car in 2016 by $1,300 compared to today's vehicle prices, consumers will see those dollars returned in fuel savings."
Through the life of the program and the vehicles, the new mileage averages will reportedly save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road for a year. They also are projected to reduce new vehicle emissions by 30 percent.
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
