U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars Responds To President's Executive Order

Technology Neutral Public Policy Will Help Reduce Federal Vehicle Petroleum Use

WASHINGTON--Nov. 10, 2011: Executive Director Jeff Breneman of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's executive order to cut waste and promote more efficient spending across the federal government:

"The USCADC applauds the Administration for looking at every opportunity to find new efficiencies and trim agency and department costs in this era of tight budgets.   Additionally, the White Paper we released this week could assist the Administration in cutting costs further while helping to achieve the President's previously announced goal of reducing petroleum use in the federal vehicles by 30% by 2020."

"In light of budget constraints, the Administration should revisit the criteria for the federal fleet replacement program which prescribes specific technologies for the government vehicles.  A better solution entails making new fleet vehicles 30% more fuel efficient than the automobiles being replaced, regardless of the powertrain technology used to achieve the desired result."

"Departments are being forced into higher-priced technologies even if advanced gasoline and diesel cars can achieve the desired 30% petroleum reduction.  Additionally, some of the alternative technologies may require additional government spending for charging or fueling infrastructure over and above the premium paid for the car itself."

"By allowing greater competition in its procurement process for federal vehicles, the administration increases its chances of improving efficiency in the executive branch."

On Monday, November 7, 2011 the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars released a White Paper by former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta titled The Case for Technology Neutral Public Policy in Fuel Economy Debate: Allowing Performance To Determine Solutions.  Click here to view the paper.