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Clean Vehicles: Saving Oil & Reducing Pollution
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Clean Vehicles: Saving Oil & Reducing Pollution
Clean Vehicles: Saving Oil & Reducing Pollution
In April 2010 the Obama administration issued urgently needed fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards for new cars and light trucks for model years 2012 to 2016. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated these standards through 2016 would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce carbon pollution by 900 million metric tons, the equivalent of closing almost 200 coal-fired power plants. Then on November 16, 2011, the Administration proposed standards for the new wave of cleaner cars for model years 2017 to 2025. The proposed new standard of 54.5 mpg, if implemented correctly, will make America's cars run further on a gallon of gas, reduce harmful pollution and spur job creation in the auto industry. According to the Union of Concerned scientists, these proposed new standards will cut oil consumption by as much as 1.5 million barrels per day -- 23 billion gallons of gasoline annually -- by 2030, an amount equivalent to US imports from Saudi Arabia and Iraq in 2010.
On August 9, 2011, President Obama finalized the first-ever fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks. The EPA estimates that this comprehensive new national program, aimed at heavy vehicles manufactured from 2014 to 2018, will reduce oil consumption by more than 530 million barrels over the operating lifetimes of the vehicles and cut carbon dioxide pollution by 270 million metric tons. This new standard is also set to save American businesses that operate and own these commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program.
These rule-makings offer an opportunity to transform the vehicle fleet, drastically cut oil use in the transportation sector and reduce harmful air pollution.
Resources on clean cars are included below:
Fact Sheets
Letters
Congressional Letters
Press Releases
Clean Cars Would Cut Oil Use, Save Americans $260 Million on Thanksgiving Travel , Environment America Press Release 11.21.11President Obama Takes Biggest Single Step to Move America Beyond Oil , Sierra Club Press Release 11.16.11Administration’s Proposed 54.5 MPG Fuel Economy Standard Wins Praise from Investors , Ceres Press Release 11.16.11Strong Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards Will Cut Carbon Pollution, Reduce Oil Addiction , Natural Resources Defense Council Press Release 11.16.11 Vets: Clean Fuel Standard Good For National Security, Operation Free Press Release 8.18.11 Ceres Investor Network Lauds Economic Benefits Of Northeast Clean Fuels Standard, Ceres Press Release 8.17.11Department of Energy Awards More Than $175 Million for Advanced Vehicle Research and Development, Dept. of Energy 8.10.11Ceres Releases Job Numbers From Obama's MPG Announcement, Results Of New Report Showing Economic Benefits of Strong MPG, Ceres Press Release 7.29.11Ceres Releases Statement On Fuel Efficiency Agreement, Results Of New Report Showing Economic Benefits Of Strong MPG, Ceres Press Release 7.29.11 President Obama Takes Historic Step To Get America Off Oil & Tackle Global Warming Through Cleaner Cars, Environment America Press Release 7.29.11President Takes Important Step In Moving America Beyond Oil, Sierra Club Press Release 7.29.11UAW Supports Administration Proposal On Light-Duty Vehicle CAFE and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions, UAW Press Release 7.29.11UCS Applauds Obama Administration Agreement On Fuel Efficiency & Auto Pollution Standards, Union of Concerned Scientists Press Release 7.29.11BlueGreen Alliance and Labor, Environmental Partners Support Administration's New Fuel Efficiency and Auto Pollution Standards, BlueGreen Alliance Press Release 7.29.11 League of Conservation Voters Statement on President Obama's Clean Cars Announcement, League of Conservation Voters Press Release 7.29.11Pew Clean Energy Program Poll Finds Strong Support For Ambitious Standards, Pew Environment Group Press Release 7.28.11Veterans: Strong Fuel Standards Help US Security, Operation Free Press Release 7.27.11Ceres Takes To The Airwaves With Message That Stronger Vehicle Standards Will Fuel Investment, New Jobs, Ceres Press Release 7.22.11Higher CAFE Standards To Create Jobs. Ceres Press Release 6.30.11 California Clean Cars Campaign Launches: Diverse Coalition Supports Tighter Pollution Controls on Passenger Vehicles , California Clean Cars Campaign 6.9.11 More Than 100 Economists Endorse Stronger National Fuel Efficiency and Auto Pollution Standards , 6.7.11BlueGreen Alliance Calls for Transportation Reauthorization in 2011 , BlueGreen Alliance Press Release 6.7.11Voters in America's Auto & Manufacturing Heartland Want 60 MPG Fuel Economy Standard By 2025 Ceres 5.25.11New Vehicle Labels Clear The Air on Fuel Efficiency, Pollutant Emissions National Wildlife Federation 5.25.11New Vehicle Labels Encourage Cleaner Cars Environment America 5.25.11EPA Improves Consumer Labels But Stronger Vehicle Standards Needed Union of Concerned Scientists 5.25.11As Memorial Day Gas Prices Hit Post-2000 High, Go60MPG Launches Ad, Web Push for Improved Auto Efficiency, Reduced Pollution GO60mpg 5.23.11EPA, DOT Unveil The Next Generation Of Fuel Economy Labels Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation 5.23.11Environmental Leaders Call on President Obama to Deliver Real Gas Savings GO60mpg 5.9.11High MPG Vehicles: Debunking The Five Big Myths GO60mpg 4.14.11Blue Green Alliance Fuel Efficiency Announcement Blue Green Alliance 10.1.10Obama Administration Puts Nation on the Road to Clean Energy Future Earthjustice 10.1.10Environmental Defense Fund Press Release Environmental Defense Fund 10.1.10Obama Administration Moves Clean Cars into the Fast Lane Environment America 10.1.10EPA and DOT Announce Next Steps toward Tighter Tailpipe and Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Trucks Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation 10.1.10New Government Analysis Says Auto Industry Can Reach 60 MPG BY 2025 Union of Concerned Scientists 10.1.10LCV Applauds Obama Administration for Clean Cars Proposal League of Conservation Voters 10.1.10
Action Alerts
Press and Articles
Detroit Automakers Have the Technology, Creativity for 54.5 mpg , Detroit Free Press 1.16.12Republican Leadership Holds Tax Relief for American Families Hostage to Keystone Pipeline , Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.18.11Keep Oil’s Dirty Fingerprints Off California’s Clean Fuels Standard , Union of Concerned Scientists Blog 12.15.11California’s Electric Car Program a Very Big Step, But Contains Missteps , Union of Concerned Scientists Blog 12.8.11A Good Deal Is Struck In Washington - Give The states Some Credit , Conservation Law Federation Blog 7.29.11What The Latest Clean Car Peace Treaty Shows About Governing Today's America , Natural Resources Defense Council 7.29.11 New Fuel Efficiency Rules A Win For Wildlife, Consumers, Economy, National Wildlife Federation 7.28.11 Obama To Announce New Fuel Standards, National Journal 7.27.11Obama To Unveil New Fuel Standards, Politico 7.27.11White House, Carmakers near deal on fuel standards, Los Angeles Times 7.27.11 General Motors Expands Chevrolet Vold Orders To All 50 States, Lowers Price , Detroit Free Press 6.10.11Dan Becker Op-Ed: Barack Obama Can Halt Our Oil Addiction , Politico Op-Ed 6.9.11 Blog by CERES President Mindy Lubber - Investors, Workers: Strong Fuel Economy Standards Will Fuel America’s Economy , Forbes Blog 6.8.11 Oregon to Turn Interstate 5 Into An Electric Highway , Forbes Blog 6.1.11Labels Are Good, Standards Are Better , Switchboard Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog 5.25.11New Labels Expected to Boost Information For Consumers Hungry for Clean, Efficient Vehicles , Switchboard Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog 5.24.11The Best Remedy for the Price of Gas , Los Angeles Times 4.14.11
Reports and Other Resources
Reports:
Gobbling Less Gas for Thanksgiving: How Clean Cars Will Cut Oil Use and Save Americans Money , Environment America Report November 2011Supplying Ingenuity, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resource Defense Council, and UAW Report 8.17.11 More Jobs Per Gallon: How Strong Fuel Economy/GHG Standards Will Fuel American Jobs, Ceres Report 6.29.11 National Policy on Transportation , BlueGreen Alliance Policy Brief 6.7.11Summer Gas Prices: Beating the Heat with Clean Cars , Environment America 5.05.11 Fuel Economy Focus: Perspectives on 2020 Industry Implications , Ceres 3.30.11EPA 2011 Draft U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report , Environmental Protection Agency 2.18.11The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act , Environmental Protection Agency 2011
National Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for New Fuel Efficiency, Tailpipe Emissions Standards , Union of Concerned Scientists 9.16.10
Environmental Defense Fund Testimony; EPA Transport Rule Hearing, Environmental Defense Fund 8.26.10
NEW CFA REPORT: 60 MPG Or More Standard Is Economically Achievable And Truly Responsive To Consumer Needs, Consumer Federation of America 9.2.10
Videos:
June 28, 2011 Increase My MPG!, Pew Environment Group
Members Only
Resources on medium-sized and heavy-duty trucks are included below:
Fact Sheets
Press
Department of Energy Awards More Than $175 Million for Advanced Vehicle Research and Development, Dept. of Energy 8.10.11Vets Group: Fuel-Efficient Trucks Strengthen National Security, Operation Free Press Release 8.9.11Ceres President Mindy Lubber Commends Heavy Truck Standards, Ceres Press Release 8.10.11Statements: BlueGreen Alliance and Allies Statement on Medium - and Heavy - Duty Vehicle Fuel Efficiency and Carbon Emissions Standards, BlueGreen Alliance Press Statement 8.9.11First-Ever Heavy Duty Rules Deliver Truckload Of Savings, National Wildlife Federation Press Release 8.9.11 New Truck Standards Will Lower Emissions, Create Jobs and Reduce Oil Consumption, Union of Concerned Scientists Press Release 8.9.11 White House Announces First Ever Oil Savings Standards For Heavy Duty Trucks, Buses/Saving $50 Billion In Fuel Costs And Over 500 Million Barrels Of Oil, EPA Press Release 8.9.11President Obama Moves Us Further From Oil With New Truck Efficiency Standards, Environment America Press Release 8.9.11League of Conservation Voters Statement On First-Ever Truck Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards, League of Conservation Voters Press Release 8.9.11Sierra Club Applauds Historic Standards For Heavy Trucks , Sierra Club Press Release 8.9.11
EPA and NHTSA Propose First-Ever Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Efficiency of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Regulatory Announcement, Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 10.10
Sierra Club Welcomes Obama Administration’s Action to Set First-Ever Fuel Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy Trucks , Sierra Club 10.25.10
Alliance for Climate Protection Press Release On New Clean Trucks Proposal , Alliance for Climate Protection 10.25.10
Environmental Defense Fund, Press Release On New Fuel Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Standards for Freight Trucks and Buses , Environmental Defense Fund 10.25.10
LCV Statement on First-Ever Heavy Truck Emissions Standards , League of Conservation Voters 10.25.10
BlueGreen Alliance Statement on Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Standards for Medium-Sized and Heavy-Duty Trucks , Blue Green Alliance 10.25.10
Press and Articles
Blogs
Reports & Other Resources
Earth Justice Fact sheet on Coal fueled fleet transition in the APA
The Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Click here for past issues.
