Would you like your car to get better gas mileage?
Federal officials will be in Philadelphia today to take testimony on proposed fuel efficiency standards that would require cars to get 54.5 miles a gallon -- a "fleet" average -- by 2025.
Today's average? About 27 mpg. By one estimate, the new standards could save consumers $4,000 in fuel costs over the life of an average vehicle.
At a similar hearing Tuesday in Detroit, home of the American automobile, about 90 people testified -- mostly in favor.
"Writing new regulations that will require cars and trucks to have significantly higher fuel economy by 2025 prompted years of fighting among automakers, environmentalists, regulators and consumer groups. But now that the standards have been proposed, nearly everyone involved in the process is on board with the results," write Nick Bunkley in the New York Times.
"There appears to be no significant opposition amongst responsible persons," said U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who had fought earlier attempts to boost fuel economy.
"These standards will cut our oil use by more than we get from Persian Gulf, Venezuela and Russia combined," said Larry Schweiger of the National Wildlife Federation.
Six veterans testified as well, pointing out that our need for imported oil threatens national security -- and American lives.
Today's hearing begins at 10 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Downtown, 1800 Market Street. It is being held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
If you can't get there but would like to listen in, you can do so by by calling 866-299-3188 and then using conference code 734 214 4423#.
Also, the Sierra Club is tweeting from the hearing. Search for @SierraClubLive. I'll retweet when I can.
Among those expected to testify today: the Clean Air Council, various medical groups, the National Automobile Dealers Association, the Pew Clean Energy Program, Greater Philadelphia Taxi Association, the director of Philadelphia's Air Management Program, the Union of Concerned Scientists, several veterans, and officials from Hyundai, Ford and Toyota.
A fact sheet about the proposed standard is available on EPA’s Website http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/documents/420f11038.pdf.
The question is? Does the technology exist to do this? Are we all just going to be plugging in our cars to make up the difference...and if so, who accounts for the coal and gas we burn to make electricity? Sounds great in the idea phase...but unless the technology exists or can be created in the next few years, this will end up to be another gov't mandate which ends up costing consumers more money in the price of vehicles.— Intelligence2008- Government should not dictate mileage requirements. The free market should do that. If consumers wish to drive cars which appeal to them despite getting low fuel mileage, manufatcurers should be permitted to make those cars. If there is enough demand for vehicles which get 55 MPG, the marketplace will adjust accordingly and manufacturers will make those cars, as well, to supply the demand. Let the free market determine which cars will be produced, not some empty headed suit from the federal government.— kelprod2
- I agree that the government should not dictate mileage requirements. Keep in mind that the price of gasoline is substidized by using our military to keep oil shipping channels open and keep friendly oil purducing countries leaders in power. This cost should not be included in the defense budget but add as a fee on each gallon of oil imported into the country. Then we will see the REAL price of gas, heating oil, and etc and American will live closer to work and drive smaller cars, and live in smaller homes.— chrishvac
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.
 | Follow on Twitter |
- Facts of the Day Former DEP secretary John Hanger
- WolfeNotes NJ environmental policy expert Bill Wolfe
- PennFuture Pennsylvania environmental advocacy
- A Rube With a View NJ wildlife and conservation expert Larry Niles
- View From the Cape What’s happening birdwise at Cape May
- Beverly Milestone Maisey Environmental issues and Transition Cheltenham
- My Plastic-Free Life California’s Beth Terry goes without
- GreenFaith Interfaith Partners for the Environment
- LA Times Greenspace blog
- B’More Green Baltimore Sun’s environmental blog
- Blue Marble Mother Jones' enviro blog
- All about Philly recycling
- RecycleNOW Philadelphia
- Next Great City Philly urban sustainability
- Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
- Transition Town Media
- Transition Cheltenham
- Wissahickon Growing Greener
- Sustainable Delaware County
- One If By Land Bucks County Citizen journalism on the environment.
- PhillyCompost
- Regional air quality partnership
- Philadelphia Air Management Services
- Clean Air Council in Philadelphia
- Clean Water Action in PA
- Sierra Club, NJ Chapter
- Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter
- Energy Coordinating Agency
- Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
- Delaware River Basin Commission
- Academy of Natural Sciences’ Center for Environmental Policy
- Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
- Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- PennEnvironment
- Delaware Riverkeeper Network
- Philly Rivercast A daily forecast of water quality in the Schuylkill River
- Environment New Jersey
- New Jersey Environmental Federation
- NJ PIRG
- NJ’s American Littoral Society
- NJ’s Clean Ocean Action
- The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania Chapter
- NJ Pinelands Commission
- Pinelands Preservation Alliance
- New Jersey Audubon Society
- Bucks County Audubon Society
- Valley Forge Audubon Society
- Wyncote Audubon Society
- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
- Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education
- Philly’s Women’s Health and Environmental Network
- Dumpster Divers of Philadelphia
- Environmental news and commentary from grist.org
- National Geogoraphic’s Green Guide
- Treehugger green living site
- The Daily Green
- Green Living from the Natural Resources Defense Countil
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
