{"id":446,"date":"2017-10-11T02:40:17","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T06:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=446"},"modified":"2019-03-23T22:53:37","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:53:37","slug":"defend-clean-car-standards-oppose-changes-to-auto-efficiency-regs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/defend-clean-car-standards-oppose-changes-to-auto-efficiency-regs\/","title":{"rendered":"DEFEND CLEAN CAR STANDARDS: Oppose Changes to Auto Efficiency Regs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Environmental Issues Working Group<\/a> and Natural Resources Council of Maine C2A<\/span><\/p>\n

THE BASICS
\n<\/b>The Trump Administration has taken the first step toward weakening fuel efficiency standards designed to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, which have been linked to climate change. <\/span>Submit a public comment to the EPA by October 5 in support of existing clean car standards.<\/b><\/p>\n

THE ISSUE
\n<\/b>Studies have found that human activities are the primary driver of the increase in greenhouse gases, and <\/span>one of the biggest culprits is transportation<\/span><\/a>. The burning of fossil fuel to power cars, trucks, trains, ships and planes accounts for 27% of total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. \u00a0In 2012, <\/span>the nation took a big step toward reducing those emissions<\/span><\/a> by raising fuel efficiency standards for new passenger vehicles built between 2017 and 2025. The <\/span>EPA estimated<\/span><\/a> the standards–which would require automakers to produce <\/span>fleets by 2025 that average 35.5 miles<\/span><\/a> per gallon–would \u00a0nearly double fuel efficiency, save American families $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, resulting in an average fuel savings of more than $8,000 by 2025 over the lifetime of the vehicle. The standards were <\/span>met with widespread support by Maine auto businesses, environmental groups and policymakers<\/span><\/a>. Less than a year ago, government agencies thoroughly reviewed these standards and decided to leave them unchanged through 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

But earlier this year, at the request of automakers, the <\/span>Trump Administration announced it will reopen this review,<\/span><\/a> creating an opportunity for the administration to weaken or even repeal these standards. In March, the <\/span>Maine Attorney General\u2019s office announced<\/span><\/a> it would join with California to oppose any effort to roll back vehicle emissions. They have since been joined by <\/span>13 other states<\/span><\/a>. And a Gallup poll in April found that nearly <\/span>80% of Americans–including 73% of Republicans-<\/span><\/a>-support the stronger fuel efficiency standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

The administration must clear a number of hurdles before they can make any changes, the first of which is <\/span>a public comment period<\/span><\/a>, which is open now through Oct. 5. <\/span><\/p>\n

ACTION<\/b><\/p>\n