Diverse Coalition Generates More Than 300,000 Comments in Support of Strong Vehicle Tailpipe Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the second comment period for the EPA’s reopened review of passenger vehicle tailpipe standards comes to a close today, a diverse coalition including the Sierra Club, Environment America, Natural Resources Defense Council, the League of Conservation Voters and the Safe Climate Campaign have submitted more than 300,000 comments from members and supporters over the two comment periods calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain strong vehicle standards.

“To keep our air clean and our climate safe, we need to put clean car standards in the fast lane,” said Andrew Linhardt, Sierra Club’s Deputy Legislative Director for Transportation. “Automakers are trying to pump the brakes on climate progress, claiming critical clean car standards are unrealistic, after standing with President Obama as he signed the standards into action in 2012. But a new administration is no reason to shift progress to reverse. That’s why more than people on behalf of a diverse coalition stood up to automakers by submitting comments in support of strong fuel efficiency standards.”

During the midterm review in 2016, together as a part of a diverse coalition, environmental, consumer, and health allies submitted more than a quarter million comments in support of strong vehicle efficiency standards.

"Drivers, start your engines--in reverse. Trump and the automakers are leading America backwards." said Dan Becker, director, Safe Climate Campaign.

“We need Clean Car Standards to protect our health and environment,” said Jennie Olson, fellow with Environment America. “Reducing pollution will help curb the effects of climate change, and at the same time, it will spur innovation and investment in clean cars technology, growing our economy and creating new opportunities. That’s why more than 500 small business owners support these standards as well. Let’s move forward, not back,” she concluded.

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the reopening of review for the previously finalized passenger vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards.

“Reconsidering these standards is unpopular and short-sighted,” said Luke Tonachel, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Clean Vehicles and Fuels Project. “The American public wants cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. Strong standards also prompt innovation and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that come with it. Nearly 300,000 manufacturing workers in 1,200 facilities across 43 states are already building the technologies that help protect the planet for future generations while saving consumers money at the pump today. We can’t let these advanced technology jobs go overseas.”

In January, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized its proposed decision on fuel efficiency standards, originally set by the Obama administration in 2012. The decision kept the fuel economy goals at their current level through year 2025. This decision came after a technical assessment report, a 30-day comment period, a proposed decision, and a second 30-day comment period.

“The clean car standards are both popular and successful, and it makes absolutely no sense for the EPA to roll them back,” said Sara Jordan, Legislative Representative for the League of Conservation Voters. “Transportation is our country’s largest source of carbon pollution, so reducing emissions from the cars we drive is critical to fighting climate change and protecting our health – and it even saves drivers money at the gas pump. As we watch the horrifying dangers of climate change come to life as devastating hurricanes and wildfires, we can’t let Scott Pruitt’s EPA continue to axe away at every tool in the box for fighting carbon pollution.”

In 2009, automakers agreed to the Obama administration's rules, which would bring the average fleetwide fuel economy to between 50 and 52.6 mpg in 2025.

These standards will reduce climate pollution by as much as 6 billion metric tons over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025—the equivalent to carbon pollution from 150 coal-fired power plants for an entire year.