Alliance to Save Energy calls on increasing CAFE standards and offers tips to save energy
Yes, oil prices are near $90 a barrel, and price increases at the pump will come very soon. This is why the Alliance to Save Energy is calling the Congress to raise immediately Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. "Congress must adopt and send to the president the CAFE increases in the Senate energy bill," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "As consumers continue to be burdened by increasing gasoline prices, and with cost-effective technology currently available that can dramatically increase vehicle fuel economy, there simply is no excuse for Congress to postpone raising fuel economy standards". She also mentions that this is not just a matter of saving bucks from our budget but because "energy efficiency in the transportation sector is a key element in helping to curb the polluting emissions that contribute to climate change and in lowering U.S. dependence on imported oil."
Until the new CAFE standards arrive, the Alliance to Save Energy encourages customers to reduce fuel consumption with some advice.
- Keeping the car in good order with regular maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated and sticking to speed limits.
- Buying more efficient cars.
- Getting information about federal income tax credits for buying hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles
- Testing the "Energy IQ" to learn how your waste of energy affects your community (you can take it here).
- Learning how being more energy-efficient contributes to the US economic and energy security.
[Source: Alliance to Save Energy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Evan 2:52PM (10/19/2007)
"As consumers continue to be burdened by increasing gasoline prices, and with cost-effective technology currently available that can dramatically increase vehicle fuel economy, there simply is no excuse for Congress to postpone raising fuel economy standards".
I am tired about hearing about the poor consumer having to pay these high gas prices. The same poor consumer that contiues to drive to work by him/herself in their SUV. Here is thought, double or even triple the gasoline taxes. Suddenly the automakers will voluntarily raise their CAFE. The consumers will demand more fuel efficient cars. Cars that the Europeans already get. The poor SUV wielding consumers will be begging coworkers to car pool and our fuel usage will go down. Leave the taxes on diesel and E85 alone for several years and that will only expidite our reduction on fuel usage as consumers will flock to these. Only when the price of fuel shocks consumers into action will meaningful change happen.
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mike 4:09PM (10/19/2007)
CAFE is an orderly retreat from Ultra-Guzzlers.
Or, we can wait for China and India to give us PANIC.
I vote for CAFE.
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Lorna Li 5:36PM (10/20/2007)
Hi Xavier,
Thanks for getting the word out about the Alliance to Save Energy. Government and industry are, perhaps unsurprisingly, being so lukewarm about fuel efficiency and what this means to our country (and planet) that citizens and NGO coalitions have do more work to raise a ruckus.
A lot of discussion revolves around whether the CAFE standard is the best solution to curb fuel consumption and greenhouse gases, or of a gas tax will be more effective.
Most people don't have a choice about how much they need to drive, and public transportation in most areas sucks. The gas tax puts the onus of cleaning up our environment, energy efficiency and independence on hard-working, tax-paying average American consumers. Will the gas tax be a progressive tax and support the development of renewable energy in this country? Probably not.
Industry and government need to take more responsibility by writing better standards into legislation.
I'm supporting a coalition to pressure Congress on strong, green Energy Bill. If you feel the same way, please sign this petition:
http://www.energybill2007.org
Cheers,
Lorna Li | Green 2.0
http://lornali.com
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