Sierra Club, Lauren Lantry (202) 548-6599 or lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Eight leading environmental, energy, and science organizations urged Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on Friday to uphold auto emissions standards that would deliver a new-car fleet averaging better than 50 m.p.g. in 2025.
The organizations--the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Safe Climate Campaign, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, Union of Concerned Scientists, and League of Conservation Voters--responded to complaints raised by two auto lobbying groups over an exhaustive review of the auto rules. The analysis was conducted throughout much of 2016. That review resulted in the EPA's 2017 Final Determination on the Appropriateness of Model Years 2022-2025 Light Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards.
The Alliance of Automaker Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers asked Pruitt last week to withdraw the Obama administration's decision to maintain the clean-car standards through 2025. The automakers had supported the program when it was finalized in 2012. As required in the regulation, the EPA conducted an evaluation of the latter half of the program for model years 2022-2025.
On January 13, the EPA finalized its decision that the model year 2022-2025 standards, set in 2012, remained appropriate. This decision followed completion of an extensive and thorough three-agency (EPA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California Air Resources Board) technical assessment report that found the 2025 standards could be met on time and with known technologies, and would save consumers more than $90 billion dollars at the pump over the lifetime of model year 2022-25 vehicles of dollars at the pump. These standards would also reduce climate pollution by 5 billion metric tons over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025. The EPA received more than 400,000 comments from the general public supporting its decision to maintain the standards. Public polling also demonstrates widespread, bipartisan support for strong vehicle standards.
“In order to keep our air clean and our climate safe, we need to put clean car standards in the fast lane, but auto manufacturers are attempting to backpedal on vital climate and consumer protections. This is a move in the wrong direction from 2012, when automakers stood with President Obama and agreed that clean car and fuel efficiency standards were realistic and achievable. A new administration is no reason to go in reverse,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.
“EPA’s clean car standards are driving unprecedented reductions in carbon pollution and saving drivers money at the pump,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Strong standards have been a critical factor in the auto industry's recovery from financial distress, so it makes no sense to reverse this progress. EPA should stay the course and look to the future, to protect our climate and the workers developing clean car technologies.”
“If the automakers succeed in joining with the Trump administration to unravel the rules, we’ll pay more at the pump, depend more on oil from bad countries and pollute our kids’ atmosphere,” said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign. “Automakers will jeopardize their record profits and sales achieved under the standards, and grow weaker by making too many gas guzzlers. Make no mistake: This is a demand to weaken the standards, disguised as a polite procedural request.”
“These standards work,” said Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “After years of careful analysis across agencies, the evidence is clear—these vehicle efficiency and emissions rules have helped us cut oil use, reduce pollution, save money at the pump and reduce the risk of climate change. It’s simple: the EPA needs to stand by its research, keep these standards moving forward, and continue to improve vehicle technology for Americans in the years to come.”
“It’s vitally important that Administrator Pruitt uphold these standards because they protect consumers and our clean air. EPA’s clean car standards are saving people money at the gas pump, reducing our dependence on oil, and reducing carbon pollution, said Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.7 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
About the The Safe Climate Campaign
The Safe Climate Campaign, a project of the Center for Auto Safety, is a Washington-based environmental organization that advocates strong measures to fight global warming.
About Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on EDF Voices, Twitter and Facebook.
About Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.