WASHINGTON (October 11, 2017)—A new bill introduced by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) would open new loopholes that would weaken fuel efficiency and emissions standards. Passing this bill would risk the progress we’ve made toward cleaner cars that use less oil and reduce global warming pollution, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Below is a statement by Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Vehicles program at UCS.
“Automakers promised to deliver cleaner cars, and for five years now, they’ve succeeded. We know they can meet and even exceed the standards set for them in the years ahead. Instead, they’re lobbying at every level to weaken the standards. This bill is just the latest giveaway to an industry looking to change the rules in the middle of the game.
“Let’s be clear: if this bill passes, we’ll burn an extra 350 million barrels of oil, at a cost of $34 billion to America’s drivers—and dump an extra 155 million tons of global warming emissions into the air.
“There’s simply no reason to let automakers out of the commitments they’ve made—commitments we know they can meet. Strong standards have been a success with benefits for drivers and the climate while the auto industry is enjoying record sales. Instead of paying lobbyists to weaken the standards through efforts like this legislation that will roll back progress, the industry should keep paying engineers to innovate and move us forward.”