Administration Opposition to Auto Fuel Economy Costing Billions

[Guest guest]

Wed, 18 May 2005 13:32:57 GMT

" BushGreenwatch " <info

Administration Opposition to Auto Fuel Economy Costing Billions

 

 

Bush Greenwatch

 

May 18, 2005 | Back Issues

 

Administration Opposition to Auto Fuel Economy Costing Billions

 

A report released yesterday by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group

(U.S. PIRG) shows that Americans will spend upwards of $5 billion

extra on gasoline this year than due to poor automobile fuel economy

policies.

 

Had the Bush Administration tightened fuel economy standards four

years ago--mandating that cars and light trucks get 40 miles to the

gallon (mpg)-- American consumers would already be enjoying

substantial benefits.

 

According to the report, the U.S. would be consuming 350,000 fewer

barrels of oil per day-- more than half of current U.S. imports from

Iraq-- if the government had mandated that the automobile industry

make use of the fuel efficiency technology that already existed in 2001.

 

Such a decrease in fuel consumption would also reduce U.S. carbon

dioxide by 23.9 million tons, significantly lowering the country's

contribution to global warming.

 

The PIRG report cites a National Academy of Sciences study which found

that the automobile industry could increase fuel economy to 40 mpg

over the next decade.

 

Instead, despite substantial advancement in fuel efficiency

technology, average fuel economy is actually at a 24- year low.

America averages only 20.8 mpg for model year 2004 cars and light

trucks-- six percent lower than the peak of 22.1 mpg in 1987 and 1988.

 

The reduction is due in large part to the Bush Administration's

opposition to proposals that would increase fuel economy. Rather than

take advantage of the latest innovations in fuel efficiency

technology, the Bush Administration has pushed an energy bill that

will actually increase U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

 

The Energy Information Administration found that the current energy

bill would increase imports of foreign oil by 85 percent by 2025.

 

Additionally, the House has dropped more than $3 billion in incentives

for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the latest version of

the bill-- while allocating $8 billion worth of subsidies and tax

breaks to the cash-rich oil and gas industry.

 

Last year the top 10 oil companies raked in $100 billion in profits, a

30-percent increase from 2003.

 

###

 

SOURCES:

" America Idles: President Bush's Inaction Costs Americans $5 Billion

at the Pump in 2005, " US PIRG, May 17, 2005.

 

Spread the Word | Back Issues

 

BushGreenwatch | 1320 18th Street NW 5th Floor

Washington, DC 20036 | (202) 463-6670

Web site comments: info

Copyright 2003 Environmental Media Services