In May, President Barack Obama announced national clean car standards to spur the creation of an American automobile fleet that averages approximately 35 miles-per-gallon (mpg) by 2016. According to the White House, the vehicles operating under the new standards would deliver a lifetime savings of nearly two billion barrels of oil and reduce global warming pollution by almost 900 million tons.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) are currently finalizing a proposal for how to implement these standards. Please tell EPA and DOT leaders that they must ensure we meet the president's goal and not be hampered by the kind of loopholes that undermined previous national fuel economy standards. This is their opportunity to ensure real clean car choices for all Americans and allow the struggling auto industry to emerge as the model for a clean energy economy.
Note: the deadline for submitting comments has been extended to November 27. But please don't delay – send your letter to the EPA and DOT today!
Dear Administrator Jackson and Secretary LaHood,
I applaud your combined efforts to create a final rule for how to implement the national clean car standards announced by President Obama. The president's 35 mpg by 2016 target will help me and all Americans play a stronger role in curbing oil dependence and global warming pollution, and help in the transformation and revitalization of our struggling auto industry.
As we know from 30 years of stagnation on national fuel economy, your plan will be the key to ensuring that the president's stated goal -- 35 mpg by 2016 -- becomes reality.
Significant past loopholes, such as allowing automakers to reclassify cars as "light trucks" to decrease fuel economy requirements and incorporating weight thresholds that allowed gas guzzlers like the Hummer to evade all fuel economy regulations, helped to create the current environmental and economic predicament the industry finds itself in.
[Your comments]
Only a strong final plan that ensures the president's targets are met will deliver the clean car choices, oil savings, and jobs that a transformed auto industry can bring.
I look forward to seeing the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation working together to deliver and implement strong national clean car standards.
