BushGreenwatch: Administration Announces Weak New Mileage Standards

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Wed, 24 Aug 2005 13:05:29 GMT

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Administration Announces Weak New Mileage Standards

 

 

 

BushGreenwatch Org

 

August 24, 2005 | Back Issues

 

Administration Announces Weak New Mileage Standards

 

Amidst rising oil and gas prices, the Bush Administration yesterday

announced its new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for

light trucks. Environmentalists say the proposed rule changes will do

nothing to help American motorists at the pump, nor will they reduce

America's dependence on imported oil.

 

The new standards appear to raise the current light truck standard of

22.2 miles per gallon (mpg) in model year 2007 to a fleet-wide

standard of 24 mpg by model year 2011.

 

However, the new standards actually exempt vehicles weighing from

8,500 to 10,000 pounds-- such as the Hummer H2, Ford Excursion, and

some models of the Chevy Suburban-- all vehicles that achieve very

poor mileage due to their size. [1]

 

Environmentalists argue that the Bush Administration should make use

of the latest in automotive technology and establish a more stringent

fleet-wide average standard. Ironically, General Motors is already

producing a vehicle in China that achieves 43 miles per gallon.

 

" Instead of harnessing America's technological know-how to require

light trucks and autos to meet a 40-mile per gallon (mpg) average

standard, " said Anna Aurilio, U.S. PIRG legislative director, " the

Administration has proposed a pathetically weak increase in light

truck miles per gallon standards and has given automakers an

opportunity to game the system by increasing the size of their SUVs

and other light trucks. "

 

According to the Sierra Club, a 40-mpg standard would save the average

driver $2,200 in fuel savings over the lifetime of a vehicle. [2] The

distribution of light trucks into six size-based categories was

supported by the big three U.S. automakers, General Motors, Ford Motor

Co., and DaimlerChrysler AG. [3]

 

Department of Transportation Secretary Norman T. Mineta boasts that,

" This is a plan that will save gas and result in less pain at the pump

for motorists without sacrificing safety. " [4]

 

But Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming Program,

says the new standards will do nothing to help consumers save money at

the gas pump, reduce oil dependence or curb global warming. " At a time

when Americans are paying record prices for gas, the Bush

administration has sided with its cronies in the auto industry and

rejected real solutions, " said Becker.

 

" Unfortunately, the proposed gains in fuel economy are likely to be

eliminated as a result of the radical overhaul of the current

structure, " the Sierra Club said in a statement released yesterday. [5]

 

###

 

SOURCES:

[1] " Bush Administration Fuel Economy Fails to Address Rising Gas

Prices, " Sierra Club, Aug. 23, 2005.

[2] Ibid.

[3] " Bush Admin Unveils New CAFE Standards for Light Trucks, "

Greenwire, Aug. 23, 2005.

[4] " Government Proposes New Fuel Standards, " Business Week, Aug. 23,

2005.

[5] Sierra Club op. cit.

 

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