Chicago, IL–A new Environment Illinois report, entitled “Driving Towards a New Energy Future,”
finds that the automobile fuel economy provision in the Senate energy bill
would save Illinois consumers $1 billion at the pump in 2020, reduce oil
consumption by more than 44,000 barrels per day and would
be the equivalent to taking more than half a million cars off the road.
“Rising energy prices are gobbling up consumer savings
this Thanksgiving season,” said Rebecca Stanfield, Director of Environment
Illinois. “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.”
The CAFE provision’s savings would be even more
significant nationwide. The Senate bill would:
- Reduce our national energy consumption by 1.2
million barrels per day in 2020;
- Save American consumers $26.5 billion dollars; and
- Reduce greenhouse gas pollution by an amount equivalent
to taking 14 million cars off the road.
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 create a
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 Stanfield “We have the technology to get to 35 mpg by 2020.
It’s time for Congress to pass a strong energy bill.”
[Read the whole report here.]
