Administration Opposition to Auto Fuel Economy Costing Billions

[rodeodance]

I go this in an email today;
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 13:35:37 +0000 (GMT)
From: BushGreenwatch <[e-mail]>


May 18, 2005
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.

Read the full report from US PIRG.

SOURCES:
"America Idles: President Bush’s Inaction Costs Americans $5 Billion at the Pump in 2005," US PIRG, May 17, 2005.

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[wishlist]

1. Should be no excuse for small cars like PT Cruisers to be "Light trucks"

When the PT Cruisers first came out a few years ago, I looked at them in the car lot and could not believe how poor their fuel efficiency was until I realized they were able to slip by as light trucks. The Grand Caravan gets just as good mileage.

I noticed in the latest Consumer Reports mag that all of the small American sporty convertibles they reviewed only get around 20 mpg compared to the VW and MiniCooper that get closer to 25 mpg. That is pathetic fuel efficiency for such small cars.

[slor]

2. Thanks for the post! n/t