Sen. Carl Levin pushes to water down Senate energy bill
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) is moving again to protect the interests of his biggest constituents (that is, the auto industry) by pushing for the changes to the energy bill passed by the senate. If Levin gets his way, the bill would more closely resemble the Hill-Terry bill in the House of Representatives. Under Levin's proposals, the split between cars and trucks that was left out of the Senate proposal would be restored. This would allow trucks to be averaged separately so their lower mileage doesn't drag down the average for cars. This in and of itself may not be such a bad thing. The problem is that automakers have abused this split over the years to make their mileage look better than it has been. Companies have taken vehicles that were obviously passenger cars and tweaked them to get classed as light trucks so they pull up the average of the big SUVs. A prime example of this is the Chrysler PT Cruiser which gets lumped in with the Dodge Ram. If the rules could get written such that these types of shenanigans are prevented, the car/truck split would be OK. Levin also wants to stretch out the time-line for implementing the new rules and restore the separate fleet averages for import and domestic vehicles.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GreyFlcn 7:04PM (10/20/2007)
Contrast this with
"Ethanol Should Fuel Michigan’s Future" by Carl Levin
http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=258365
BioFuels are entirely a do-nothing approach for the auto industry.
And frankly it's absolute bullshit.
Biofuels with very very very few exceptions (which don't exist except inside a lab) actually increase emissions.
Reply
Lorna Li 6:29PM (10/20/2007)
The short term gain by Hill-Terry compromise is actually a long term loss for the American auto-industry. Think about it.
With no end to the increase in oil prices, if U.S. auto manufacturers fail to innovate, consumers will favor automobiles that are more fuel efficient, especially as those technologies become cheaper over time. Not only will wealth be transferred overseas - imagine the auto industry layoffs.
Furthermore, the adoption of both the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard of 35 mpg by 2020 and the Renewable Electricity Standard, which calls for 15% of our electricity to be generated by renewables has the potential to spark growth in our economy.
Please support this petition if you feel the same way:
Energy Bill 2007
Lorna Li Green 2.0
Reply
Lorna Li 6:31PM (10/20/2007)
Hmmm,
My links didn't work. Here they are again:
http://www.energybill2007.org
Cheers,
Lorna Li
http://lornali.com
Reply
Chris M 2:03AM (10/21/2007)
A lot of the shenanigans could be avoided if trucks were rated solely on their cargo load capacity instead of gross vehicle weight. That would prevent many heavy SUVs getting rated as trucks for the CAFE figures.
Reply
GreyFlcn 3:17AM (10/21/2007)
Even better, they could just NOT class cars and trucks separately.
Reply
Tim 11:01AM (10/21/2007)
This is an example of why this democratic congress has the lowest approval ratings in history.
As long as we have this neorepublicrat one party system, we're all doomed as NONE of them follow the Constitution. Money talks, everyone else can just take a hike!
Reply
mike 1:43PM (10/21/2007)
Why is this guy a Democrat?
Reply
mike 1:43PM (10/21/2007)
In other words we need a REAL Democrat for this district.
Reply
David Isaacs 7:14PM (10/21/2007)
Carl Levin should be ashamed of himself. The kind of protectionism he is giving the auto industry is going to kill them in the long run. Read Michael Shnayerson's book "The Car that could" and see what GM and the Oilies did to kill the ZEV mandate. Read the subsequent statements by GMs Chairmen that axing the EV-1 was the biggest mistake of their lives and realize that technology as represented by Tesla Motor company (for instance) will threaten the major auto manufacturers exisitence.
Reply
Lorna Li 11:37PM (10/22/2007)
Currently, most North American biofuels create more carbon-emitting fossil fuel than it displaces. Ethanol made from corn cellulose is extremely difficult and cost-prohibitive to break down. Cane generates twice as much as ethanol as corn. Cane ethanol production, sadly is the cause of massive rainforest destruction, not to mention horrific human rights abuses in Colombia.
To believe that biofuels will currently save us from our oil addiction is premature. A dual process of stricter fuel efficiency standards coupled by strong investment in renewable energy is called for. We shouldn't back down on either.
If you want to meet other folks who strong, clean energy bill, join our group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5343587356
Reply