35 mpg fuel conservation numbers from the Union of Concerned Scientists
The research director of the Union of Concerned Scientists recently put out some numbers on the what would happen if the gas mileage of cars, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks were raised to 34 mpg by 2017. Some elected politicians, but by no means all, in Washington D.C. are calling for an increase in CAFE standards. UCS' David Friedman says 34 mpg could be reached with a four percent improvement each year. If this increase were required, then America would save 550,000 barrels of oil a day in 2017, and 95 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be saved from the atmosphere that year, which UCS says is the same as taking 14 million of today's cars and trucks off the road.
On the biofuel side of things, producing 35 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2017 would cut projected oil demand by 1.5 million barrels per day in 2017. If these fuels are primarily ethanol (corn-based and cellulosic), it would reduce global warming pollution by 160 million metric tons in 2017, the equivalent of removing almost 24 million of today's cars and trucks from the road.
[Source: Union of Concerned Scientists]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 12:47PM (2/01/2007)
The implicit assumption in the last paragraph is that ethanol is actually "green". The claim for reduction in greenhouse gas pollution is one that might fit biodiesel or SVO, but not ethanol. I smell the influence of Political Correctness, which generally results in bad science, bad public policy, and bad economics.
I also find it strange that this "union" of "concerned" scientists isn't promoting EVs. The EV may have a "long tailpipe", but large stationary pollution sources are much easier to deal with than millions of mobile ones. I like the idea of increasing CAFE, but regardless of how well we conserve dinosaur juice, we will eventually run out.
Increasing CAFE may even have unintended consequences. If dinofuel-powered autos become more efficient and economical, it could actually delay the adoption of renewable alternatives. Politically Correct government edicts usually do produce unintended consequences.
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Doug R 5:25PM (2/02/2007)
That's because they don't think Howard, they FEEL. I just read the press release from the Union of Concerned scientists/activists. They are in agreement that man induced global warming is "very likely". The AP said this is the strongest wording yet, adding to their other catch phrase "must be".
Why is it that they never say they have irrefutable, scientific proof? Probably because they don't have any! Believe me, if they had it, they would say so. They don't.
I would have to respectfully disagree with you on 2 points Howard. It is impossible to say we'll eventually run out of oil. There is much more than most believe and exploration is finding new sources all the time. We could probably use petroleum for 200 yrs. or more and find other modes of transprotation long before it actually runs out.
CAFE standards have accomplished nothing other than putting an increased strain on an already financially burdened American industry. They can either build cars most people don't want to drive or pay the penalties.
The auto industry invented the multi-cylinder computer control device that enables a vehicle like a Suburban to get 25mpg on the highway. Quite an accomplishment that the government has used as an excuse to penalize them for performance engines that can't take advantage of the technology.
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Doug R 6:03PM (2/02/2007)
Their projection of 95 million metric tons of reduction reminds me of something else. The current estimate is around 10-12 billion cubic tons of emissions released every year. The earth itself releases roughly 250 billion cubic tons. Mt. Pinnatubo alone released more pollutants into the atmosphere than all of the industrial age combined. About 10 yrs. ago a Harvard physicist said that given these figures it was astronomically impossible for man to effect climate change on the level that was claimed. The figures haven't changed that much since then, about 2-4 billion cubic tons for human caused emissions.
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