Sierra Club Welcomes Opportunity for Stronger Fuel Economy Standards

Washington, DC: Today the Department of Transportation issued the final fuel economy rule for vehicles produced in model year 2011, pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This final rule directs the auto industry to produce a fleet of new cars and light trucks that average 27.3 mpg in 2011. The following is a statement of Ann Mesnikoff, Director of Sierra Club’s Green Transportation Campaign.

"The Obama administration has the opportunity to set a new direction for the auto industry, particularly the domestic auto makers who for so long have dragged their feet in putting fuel saving technologies to work. While this first step is smaller than we had hoped, the door is now open to set stronger standards for 2012 and beyond. The industry has the technology to achieve 35 mpg in 2015. As GM and Chrysler seek billions in tax payer dollars to survive, the public should be assured that they will be paid back in billions of savings at the pump and less global warming pollution that strong new fuel economy standards will deliver.

“We look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that upcoming fuel economy and global warming pollution standards will move the clean technologies that will reduce our dependence on oil and curb global warming onto new cars and trucks.”