| October 19, 2007 |  |
Michigan Sens. Levin and Stabenow's Push to Weaken Fuel Economy Provision Would Shortchange Consumers, Science Group Says
Senators Parrot Auto Industry's 'Can't Do' Rhetoric
WASHINGTON (October 19, 2007) – Michigan Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow joined five of their colleagues in a letter yesterday asking Senate leaders to weaken the vehicle fuel economy provision in the energy bill. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the senators' laundry list of complaints are based on tired auto industry rhetoric that has been debunked by multiple critics, including the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute. The group also pointed out that the Senate rejected a nearly identical attempt to weaken the provision, which would require automakers to meet a 35-miles-per-gallon fleet average by 2020, when it passed its version of the energy bill this summer.
"The auto industry and its allies in Congress have long since lost any credibility when it comes to fuel economy legislation," said Eli Hopson, Washington representative for the UCS's Clean Vehicle Program. "It's time for Michigan's senators to acknowledge that what's good for America is good for Detroit. A 35-miles-per-gallon fleet average would generate hundreds of thousands of domestic jobs, save consumers tens of billions of dollars at the pump, and dramatically cut our dependence on oil.
"With oil now at more than $80 a barrel," he added, "we're sending a billion dollars a day out of the country to pay for oil imports."
According to a recent UCS analysis, full implementation of the 35-mpg-by-2020 Senate fuel economy standard would:
- create 170,000 domestic jobs by 2020, including 22,000 in the auto industry and 8,500 in Michigan. It would generate 340,000 jobs by 2030.
- save consumers $25 billion in 2020, which includes $898 million in savings for Michigan residents. Nationally, consumers would spend $14 billion more in 2020 under the Levin-Stabenow proposal than under the current provision.
- base fuel economy standards on the types of vehicles a given manufacturer sells, thereby setting a lower bar for Detroit's Big 3 than it would for competing automakers.
- reduce U.S. oil consumption by 1.2 million barrels a day in 2020, helping to strengthen national security. Under the Levin-Stabenow proposal, Americans would consume 700,000 more barrels of oil a day than under the current provision.
The weak, automaker-backed proposal Sens. Levin and Stabenow favor also would extend a flex-fuel loophole allowing automakers to earn fuel economy credits for vehicles that can run on alternative fuels, but which, in practice, run on conventional gasoline 99 percent of the time.
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.
