New Energy Future News

The automobile fuel economy provision in the Senate energy bill passed in June would save consumers $26.5 billion dollars at the pump in 2020, reduce oil consumption by 1.2 million barrels per day and would be the equivalent of taking 14 million cars off the road, according to a report released today by Environment America.

“Rising energy prices are gobbling up consumer savings this Thanksgiving season,” said Environment American Energy Advocate Ben Schreiber. “With oil approaching $100 a barrel, it is past time for Congress to take action and pass an energy bill that increases fuel economy and requires renewable electricity to save consumers money on their energy bills.”

Environment America’s new report ,“Driving Toward a New Energy Future,” shows that in 2020 alone American consumers would save $26 billion dollars at the pump in 2020 and reduce oil consumption by 1.2 million barrels of oil a day.

This summer the Senate passed the first new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) legislation in more than 30 years. Unfortunately, the House energy bill did not contain the same provision. As Congress works to come up with a final energy bill, the CAFE provisions and a renewable electricity standard must be combined with efficiency provisions to enact a final bill that would put America on the path toward a new clean energy future.

“It is time for the auto industry to make our cars go farther on a gallon of gas instead of making the same tired excuses about how they can’t do it,” said Schreiber. “We have the technology to get to 35 mpg by 2020. It’s time for Congress to pass a strong energy bill.”

Read the full report. 

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Environment America- a federation of state environment groups—is the new home for U.S. PIRG’s environmental work.  www.environmentamerica.org