SENATORS FEINSTEIN AND SNOWE TO INTRODUCE BILL TO RAISE FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
May 1, 2001

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) today introduced legislation to equalize fuel efficiency standards for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and light duty trucks with that of passenger cars.

The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-New York), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), would gradually phase in the fuel efficiency standards for SUVs and light duty trucks by 2007. The bill also increases the fuel economy of federal government fleet of automobiles.

“At a time of rising gasoline and energy prices, increasing fuel efficiency is the single most effective action we can take to limit our reliance on foreign oil, save consumers at the pump, and reduce global warming,” Senator Feinstein said. “Specifically, this bill could save one million barrels of oil a day, reduce oil imports by 10 percent, and prevent 240 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere.”

Today, the fuel economy standard for passenger vehicles is 27.5 miles per gallon, while the standard for SUVs and light duty trucks is 20.7 miles per gallon due to a loophole in the 1975 law.

SUVs and light trucks now comprise nearly half of new car sales and have brought the average fuel economy of all the nation's new vehicles to its lowest point since 1980.

“In terms of gasoline costs, the average SUV or light truck owner could save hundreds of dollars each year in gasoline costs,” Feinstein said. “For example, if the average price of gasoline was $2 per gallon, the savings would be $420 per year for the average SUV owner. If the price reached $3 per gallon – which it might well in California this summer – the savings would be roughly $639 per year.”

The Feinstein-Snowe legislation would:

• Phase in fuel economy standards for SUVs and all other light duty trucks on the following schedule:

• By 2002, SUVs and light duty vehicles must average 22.5 miles per gallon;
• By 2005, SUVs and light duty vehicles must average 25 miles per gallon; and
• By 2007, SUVs and light duty vehicles must average 27.5 miles per gallon.

• Require that vehicles up to a weight of 10,000 pounds must qualify for fuel efficiency standards by 2007. The current limit is 8,500 pounds.

• Increase the fuel economy of new vehicles comprising the federal government fleet on the following schedule:

• By September 30, 2003, the average fuel economy of the new vehicles comprising the federal fleet must be 3 miles per gallon higher than the baseline average fuel economy for that class.

• By September 30, 2005, the average fuel economy of the new vehicles must be 6 miles per gallon higher than the baseline average fuel economy for that class.

“The United States is now the largest energy consumer in the world, with 4% of the world’s population using 25% of the planet’s energy. We can and should be the world leader when it comes to combating global warming.”

“Last year, former Senators Slade Gorton, Richard Bryan and I fought an uphill battle to try and find a way to increase these fuel economy standards. But we were stymied by the auto industry and their supporters in Congress. Ultimately, at the end of the session, we reached an agreement that directed the National Academy of Sciences to study whether, in fact, we could raise fuel efficiency without sacrificing safety or competitiveness.”

“Recently, the automakers have said that they will not actively oppose increases in fuel efficiency standards. The Big Three manufacturers have promised a voluntary increase efficiency for SUVs by 25% by 2005. This is an important step forward, but we need to do more.”