| May 5, 2010 |  |
Spill Response Should Include Comprehensive Oil Savings Policies
42 Mile Per Gallon Standard by 2020 Would Save Equivalent of 40 BP Oil Spills Every Day
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2010) — The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder of the true cost of America's oil dependence, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said today. The federal government's response to this crisis must start with containing the spill and cleaning up the gulf, but it cannot stop there. It also needs to implement comprehensive climate and energy policies that address U.S. oil addiction.
Below is a statement by Brendan Bell, a federal policy analyst with UCS's Clean Vehicles program:
"The unfolding disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is a vivid reminder that America's oil dependence puts our environment, national security and economy at risk. This spill should be a wakeup call for Washington to finally get serious about curbing America's oil addiction.
"Boosting fuel economy to 42 miles per gallon by 2020 would save more oil every day than 40 BP gulf oil spills. The real ticket to reducing our oil dependence is stronger fuel economy standards, more clean homegrown biofuels, and a 21st century transportation system.
"In any case, there is simply not enough domestic oil to meet U.S. demand or have any impact on oil imports or oil prices. It's time to reject empty rhetoric like 'drill, baby, drill' and start putting American ingenuity to work making cleaner vehicles and cleaner fuels. Congress needs to pass strong climate and energy legislation to cut our reliance on oil, and it needs to do it now."
BACKGROUND: THE BP GULF OF MEXICO SPILL IN PERSPECTIVE
The volume of the BP Gulf of Mexico spill is still unknown, but the Coast Guard originally estimated it at 1.6 million gallons, or 0.04 million barrels. To put that number in perspective, raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks to 42 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2020 would save 40 times more oil per day, according to UCS. With gas at $4 a gallon, those standards would save drivers more than $60 billion in 2020, after factoring in the extra cost drivers would pay for clean car technology when they buy new vehicles. At $3 a gallon, they would save $40 billion.
MORE OFFSHORE OIL WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON IMPORTS OR OIL PRICES
The United States currently consumes approximately about 25 billion gallons of oil and other petroleum products every month. Based on U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, UCS estimates that expanded offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions would provide less than a two-month supply of fuel between now and 2030. Any oil from those new areas would cut projected gas prices of nearly $4 per gallon by less than 2 cents per gallon in 2030. By contrast, the Obama administration's new fuel economy standards will save Americans the equivalent of reducing $4 a gallon gas to $3 a gallon.
A REAL OIL SAVINGS PLAN
According to a UCS analysis, instituting a suite of policies, including stronger fuel economy standards for cars and light and heavy trucks; incentives for producing clean biofuels; and support for expanding transportation choices, would cut U.S. oil consumption by approximately 3.7 million barrels a day by 2020 and 7.3 million barrels a day by 2030.
The federal government recently instituted new fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks that will boost average fuel economy of new cars and light trucks to 34.1 mpg by 2016. The Union of Concerned Scientists says it should follow that landmark law by raising average fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks to 42 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030. In addition, the government needs to set new fuel economy and heat-trapping emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks.
Homegrown biofuels also will help displace oil. The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) calls for 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels, derived from switchgrass, woodchips and other sources, by 2022. If the United States meets that goal, clean biofuels would cut U.S. oil dependence by about 0.7 million barrels per day in 2022, or at least 15 times more oil every day than the initial estimate of the BP Gulf of Mexico spill.
Finally, federal, state and local governments must invest in better transit options, smarter urban design, and other policies that cut oil use and heat-trapping emissions.
The savings would break down this way: Stronger car and light truck fuel economy and heat-trapping emissions standards would deliver savings of 1.6 million barrels of oil per day in 2020 and 3.9 million in 2030. Medium and heavy duty vehicle standards would save 0.4 million barrels per day in 2020 and 1 million in 2030. The United States could displace 0.7 million barrels of oil use per day with cleaner biofuels and 1.2 million in 2030. Finally, better transportation choices could save 0.4 million barrels of oil per day in 2020 and 0.6 million in 2030.
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.
