Environmentalists Decry New House Legislation on Fuel Economy Standards
Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have introduced new legislation that, according to environmentalists, would weaken federal fuel economy standards.
The bill aligns with provisions outlined in legislation introduced in the Senate that would give automakers concessions that could undermine public health protections and the future competitiveness of American manufacturers, a leading group noted.
According to Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“This bill is the latest salvo by the automakers in their quest to roll back successful clean car standards. It provides windfalls and concessions that would weaken the standards, making cars less fuel efficient and creating more air pollution in American communities.
“Representatives Upton and Dingell are enabling U.S. automakers to backpedal on critical technology investments and innovation, putting them behind competitors in the global market.
“Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans want cleaner cars that are more fuel efficient, saving them money at the pump. We urge Congress to reject this bill, which only slows our progress on protecting clean air for Americans.”
NRDC recently commissioned polling in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee that found a strong majority of residents in those states support fuel economy standards that require U.S. automobiles to increase from 25 miles per gallon (mpg) today to 40 mpg by 2025.
Category: Fuel & Oil, General Update, News
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