Today, the Obama administration announced its goal of nearly doubling gas mileage standards by 2025 and strengthening global warming pollution controls for cars and light trucks. This announcement builds upon the historic clean cars agreement reached by the Obama administration and the auto industry in 2009, which covered model years 2012–2016.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks are responsible for 57 percent of U.S. transportation petroleum use and almost 60 percent of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
If adopted by the EPA and Department of Transportation, these standards could save up to 1.3 billion barrels of oil—that’s more than two times as much oil as we currently import from Saudi Arabia each year. The standards could also save up to 590 million tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 153 coal-fired power plants.
The following is a statement from Earthjustice managing attorney Martin Wagner:
"Today’s announcement is great news for America as we try to break our dangerous dependence on oil and transition to a prosperous and healthy clean energy future. The Obama administration’s commitment to saving Americans money at the gas pump and cutting global warming pollution is the right direction for our country and our economy.
"Ensuring that our cars are as clean as possible is a crucial step in moving our nation toward a clean energy future and cleaning up the air we breathe. We have the technology to increase fuel economy standards by 6 percent every year between 2017 and 2025, reaching at least 62 miles per gallon and limiting global warming pollution to 143 grams per mile by 2025. These standards are realistic and possible for automakers, and would save Americans thousands of dollars, as much as $7,400, on gas money over the lifetime of their cars.
"Americans deserve these savings. We applaud the administration’s leadership on addressing this important source of global warming pollution. What we need now is continued leadership from the Obama administration to follow through on this promise of a cleaner, safer, healthier, and more prosperous America."
Liz Judge, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext. 237
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.