Sen. Carper Commends Administration Proposal to Help Reduce Oil Consumption, Save American Families Money at the Pump

WASHINGTON – Today Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Clean Air, commended the Obama Administration’s proposal to set stronger fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for Model Year 2017-2025 passenger cars and light trucks.

The proposed program for Model Year 2017-2025 passenger cars and trucks is expected to require increases in fuel efficiency equivalent to 54.5 mpg if all reductions were made through fuel economy improvements. The stronger fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards will help Delawareans and Americans save roughly $1.7 trillion at the pump and more than $8,000 per vehicle by 2025; reduce America’s dependence on oil by an estimated 12 billion barrels and reduce oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels per day by 2025 (enough to offset almost a quarter of the current level of our foreign oil imports); and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the programs.

“I am heartened to see that this critical program to increase and strengthen auto efficiency standards continues to move forward,” said Sen. Carper. “The proposal announced by the Administration today, in partnership with the auto industry, will support America’s security, economy, and environment. With this announcement, the Administration is ensuring that American consumers have plenty of options to buy high-quality, safe, fuel efficient cars and trucks, including those made right here in the U.S.A. This stronger standard will not only reduce the amount of oil we have to import from foreign countries, but also save families money at the pump, boost American auto manufacturing, and cut harmful air pollution. I am also encouraged that the auto industry continues to be an active participant in this process. The input and support of America’s automotive manufacturers are critical to ensuring that this proposal is a win for both America and our automakers. I will continue to work with my Congressional colleagues and the Administration to make sure this program is properly implemented and that we persist in our efforts to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, clean our air and help save American consumers and businesses billions of dollars at the gas pump for years to come.”

In April, Sen. Carper, along with Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and 15 other Senate colleagues wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to establish stronger fuel-economy standards and increase consumer information to reduce pollution and save money for American families and businesses. In their letter, the senators called on the agencies to enact joint standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions under the Feinstein-Snowe Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, which was signed into law in 2007.

Today’s action builds on the success of the first phase of the Obama Administration’s national program (2012-2016), which will raise fuel efficiency equivalent to 35.5 mpg by 2016 and result in an average light vehicle tailpipe CO2 level of 250 grams per mile. Combined with 2011 fuel economy standards and the standards in effect for 2012-2016, today’s proposal represents the most significant federal action ever taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy. Taken together, these actions would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half and result in model year 2025 light-duty vehicles with nearly double the fuel economy of model year 2010 vehicles.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm or http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

To view NHTSA and EPA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

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