Clean Car Standards are a Win for Michigan

New fuel-economy standards will save consumers millions, create thousands of jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution

Environment Michigan

Lansing, MI—New clean car standards proposed by the Obama administration will save the average Michigan family $240 a year at the gas pump in 2030 and bring thousands of jobs to the state, according to an analysis outlined today by Environment Michigan and allies.  The report, from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council, was outlined just days before Detroit is set to host one of three national public hearings on the new proposed clean car standards.  

“President Obama’s new fuel efficiency standard for passenger vehicles is a clear win-win,” said Mark Schauer, former Congressman and National Co-Chair of the BlueGreen Alliance Jobs 21! campaign. “They will create nearly 23,000 jobs here in Michigan, while protecting the environment and making us more energy independent.” 

The analysis also found that the new proposed standards for cars and light trucks in model years would, by 2030, save Michigan residents $976 million annually at the pump, cut oil use in the state by 622 million gallons, and reduce global warming pollution by over 7 million metric tons. 

“By moving ahead with the strongest possible clean car standards, the Obama administration is poised to help move our country away from oil, save Michigan residents money at the gas pump, and cut dangerous carbon pollution,” said Jane Wiedenbeck, Field Organizer with Environment Michigan.

The Obama administration proposed the standards in November of 2011. The standards would ensure that new cars and light trucks meet the equivalent of a 54.5 miles-per-gallon fleet-wide average by 2025.  Nationwide, the UCS/NRDC analysis projected that by 2030 these standards could save Americans $45 billion annually, cut annual oil use by 23 billion gallons, and cut global warming pollution by 280 million metric tons.  The proposed standards have received the support of 13 major automakers and the United Auto Workers, as well as numerous environmental and consumer groups.  

In addition to Mark Schauer, Environment Michigan was joined by Brad van Guilder, Organizer with the Sierra Club, and Tom Thias, a local Chevy salesman. 

Environment Michigan also called on the Obama administration to avoid including loopholes in the final standard that would undermine the potential consumer savings and pollution reductions.  In addition to the public hearing being held in Detroit on January 17th, the Administration is accepting comments from the public through January 30, and will finalize the standards by the end of the summer.

“This is the biggest single step that any U.S. President has taken to break America’s addiction to oil,” said van Guilder. “President Obama should keep doing the right thing and finalize these strong standards without loopholes so that Michiganders can start saving money on gas and breathe cleaner air.”