Healthy Communities News

PHILADELPHIA—Pennsylvania’s consumers will pay $328 million more than they should at the gas pump in 2006 because of shortsighted automobile fuel economy policies, according to a report released today by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.

This holiday season, high fuel costs are forcing consumers in Pennsylvania to pay more to heat their homes and fill up their gas tanks for holiday road trips. The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s report, "America Idles: How President Bush’s Inaction Will Cost Americans Billions at the Pump in 2006", details how much consumers would have saved in 2006 had the Bush administration increased gas mileage standards for cars and trucks four years ago.

“So far, Congress and the Bush administration have focused on filling the stockings of Big Oil,” said Nathan Willcox, energy and clean air advocate with PennEnvironment. “This holiday season, Pennsylvania consumers deserve the gift of better gas mileage.”

According to the report, had President Bush increased the fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 40 mpg in 2001, consumers and the U.S. economy would now be reaping the benefits. Although the policy would still be phasing in, more efficient cars would already be entering the market.

The report shows that, had the Bush administration raised the fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 40 mpg in 2001, in 2006 alone:

• Consumers would save nearly $9 billion at the gas pump nationally, or about $500 per new vehicle. Pennsylvania consumers would save $328 million next year.
• The U.S. would consume 500,000 barrels of oil less per day. This is more than three-fourths of current imports from Iraq. Pennsylvania would save 18,000 barrels per day next year.
• The U.S. would reduce its global warming pollution by 34.2 million tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to taking almost six million average vehicles off the road. Pennsylvania would reduce its carbon dioxide pollution by the equivalent of 224,000 vehicles next year.

In August 2005, the president signed into law an energy bill that gives new tax breaks to the oil and gas industry while doing nothing to make cars go farther on a gallon of gasoline. In the same month, the Bush administration proposed changes to federal fuel economy standards that could actually encourage manufacturers to make bigger and less fuel-efficient SUVs and trucks.

Oil industry allies in Congress also continue to push for drilling in the Arctic Refuge and in protected coastal areas. The Bush administration’s own Energy Information Administration has determined that drilling in the Arctic Refuge would only reduce gasoline prices by a penny a gallon 20 years from now. A vote is expected today in the U.S. Senate that would open up the Arctic refuge to oil and gas drilling.

“It’s time for our leaders to make a New Year’s resolution to break America’s oil habit and raise miles per gallon standards so Pennsylvanians can drive twice as far before filling up,” stated Willcox. PennEnvironment specifically called on Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to support bills sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) to raise gas mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon over the next 10 years.

Since leaders at the federal level have failed to take action on gas mileage standards, PennEnvironment is urging state leaders in Harrisburg to support the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program, which will likely bring more fuel efficient cars to Pennsylvania as a side benefit of vehicle emission standards that are stronger than federal standards. Today’s report was released as some state legislators have introduced legislation (House Bill 2141, Senate Bill 1025) that would unfortunately block implementation of the Clean Vehicles Program.

“Given the inaction by our leaders in Washington, D.C., it is even more important that state lawmakers work to strengthen—not weaken—pollution standards for cars and trucks,” said Willcox.

“In addition to going further than federal standards to cut dangerous air pollution in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program will also likely save Pennsylvanians money at the pump, as cleaner cars are generally more efficient cars.”