Statement of Abby Rubley, Environment
Michigan Field Director
The President called for an increase in CAFE in his 2007
State of the Union address and Congress has signed, sealed, and delivered it to
him. Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, along with Chairman Dingell and
Chairman Markey, deserve tremendous credit for breaking the decades-long log jam
on fuel economy.
This improvement in fuel economy will make real
progress on global warming. By making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas, we
can cut global warming pollution by more than the total annual emissions of
countries like Brazil,
France or Spain.
We are thrilled that this Congress has turned a corner
on energy policy by delivering long-overdue oil savings for America, but we are disappointed the
President has blocked progress on renewable energy. The original House-passed
energy bill contained popular renewable electricity standards now in place in 25
states as well as provisions to close tax loopholes for Big Oil to fund
renewable energy projects. White House opposition to the renewable electricity
standard and to the tax package helped lead to these provisions being dropped on
the Senate floor.
We look forward to taking the next step toward a new
energy future by passing renewable energy standards and incentives when Congress
returns in 2008, and urge the President to make signing a renewable energy bill
a cornerstone of his final year in office.
