Senate passes 2007 Energy Bill
In December 2007, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an Energy Bill that will significantly strengthen fuel economy standards for vehicles for the first time in more than a generation.
This bill represents years of work and is a significant step forward. The bill will boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to a fleetwide average of at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020—saving 1.1 million barrels of oil per day in 2020 (about half of what the United States currently imports from the Persian Gulf). This will significantly reduce America's oil consumption, save consumers billions at the gas pump each year, and is a meaningful step forward as we seek to reduce our nation's global warming pollution.
UCS and our supporters have been a leading voice on this critical legislation—we should all be proud of what we have accomplished. Since we began our "Fuel A Cooler Future" campaign almost a year ago, UCS activists have written letters, made phone calls, met with their representatives, called out corporations, and even sent personalized gas receipts to Congress. All to ensure this legislation passed.
UCS analysts and advocates were especially active during the Senate debate on this issue, providing key fact sheets to counter a relentless spin campaign by the automakers attempting to undermine support for the new standard. Our Washington representatives held countless meeting on Capitol Hill to explain the benefits of this legislation to House and Senate staff. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) personally thanked UCS for their contribution to this significant victory.
Internationally, the increase of fuel economy standards for American vehicles has been seen as a sign that the United States is finally accepting responsibility for reducing its own global warming pollution. UCS staff attending a critical global meeting on climate change in December in Indonesia held up this congressional action as indication that the Bush administration represents the past, not the future, on U.S. climate change and energy policy.
