FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
October 21, 2010
Contacts: Maggie Kao, Sierra Club, (202) 675-2384
Aaron Huertas, Union of Concerned
Scientists, (202) 331-5458
Nathan Willcox, Environment America,
(202) 461-2462
Suzanne Struglinski, NRDC, (202) 289-2387
New “Don’t Let Detroit Turn Back” Print Ad Buy from Environmental, Science Coalition for Car Standards
Groups Continue Push for Strong Fuel Efficiency Standard of At Least 60 MPG by 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of environmental and science organizations, released a new print ad in D.C. newspapers challenging automakers’ resistance to change and innovation and urging the Obama administration to set the strongest fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards possible for new vehicles.
View the ad here.
The ad buy follows recent announcements from the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency on the agencies’ intent to set fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards for vehicles sold in model years 2017-2025. The groups are urging the Obama administration to set a fleetwide fuel efficiency standard of at least 60 mpg and a global warming pollution standard of no more than 143 grams per mile by 2025.
With the government’s help, the American auto industry is getting back on its feet. But in order to thrive, the groups say it is time for the auto industry to step up and lead in fuel saving technologies to get to – or even surpass – 60 mpg in 2025. According to analysis by EPA and DOT, these standards will save consumers between $5,700 and $7,400 in reduced costs over the lifetime of the vehicle, even after accounting for the cost of technology. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has stated its opposition to a 60 miles-per-gallon standard in the media. But there is no reason to aim lower.
The Obama administration’s opportunity to set these strong standards will be a vital step in revitalizing the economy, creating jobs, cutting the carbon pollution that causes climate change, and reducing America’s dangerous dependence on oil.
The coalition, including Environment America, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), are running the full-page ads in Politico and National Journal’s Congress Daily.
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