US Senate seeks fuel efficiency

[Duppers]

Source: BBC

The US Senate has approved a bill that would require vehicles sold in the US to burn 30% less fuel by the year 2020.

Fuel efficiency will have to be 35mpg. The measure is part of a wider draft law on conserving energy and promoting alternative fuels.

For the first time the fuel requirement would apply equally to cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

If it becomes law, the bill will be the first efficiency increase imposed on US carmakers for nearly 20 years.

It was added to the bill after a compromise was reached with senators who wanted less stringent standards.

The bill was passed without any debate.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6229114.stm

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This is a good START, but far from enough. By 2020 the petrol efficiency requirement should be at least 60mpg, not 35mpg!

[orleans]

1. why...that's only 13 years away. do you think the auto industry will

be able to find the time to improve the cafe standards and will the oil industry be prepared enough for such a downturn in needed fuel, and will these senators who voted for this bill have recouped enough favor from constituents who really WANT to pour their hard earned money back into gasoline?

[RestoreGore]

2. THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Firstly, if this country is even having presidential elections between then and now, four other "administrations" will be installed giving plenty of time for this to be thrown out. Secondly, 2020 is not a good enough timeframe considering that the facts show that we only have TEN years to avoid closing the window on being able to control the effects of the CO2 already up in our atmosphere and saturating our oceans, and as long as they are pushing cars that run on OIL it does nothing. Thirdly, 35 MPG in this day and age frankly SUCKS. Cars can get 80 miles to the gallon and the technology is out here NOW, but God forbid the bought and sold Congress on any side actually have the GUTS to put a bill like that out here now to save this planet.

I am tired of people telling me that it is a "good start." We should not just be "starting," we need to MOVE because we ARE in a planetary emergency right NOW. That is not just some political soundbite. It is a very accurate description by scientists who actually know what the hell is going on out here. This is just like the lack of reasoning used regarding Iraq. Just put something out there that they think appeals to the masses just to look good in an "election" year that does absolutely NOTHING to stop CO2 emissions NOW without even looking at the evidence that proves it is not a good move on the whole considering the circumstances, all because their benefactors don't want to give up their precious freaking gold bars. They can spend BILLIONS ON WAR NOW though, but then say f888 this planet.

Al Gore is right. You cannot depend on the federal political system in this country to do this the way it needs to be done NOW and to exhibit the MORAL COURAGE it will take to face this crisis NOW. It is the PEOPLE who will have to be informed enough first to understand that this is not good enough and it is only something done to placate them in lieu of cowing down to the oil and automobile industries that line their campaign coffers. Until WE the people BREAK THAT SPELL first, there will never be a bill coming out of the DC abyss worth even giving a damn about.

[Duppers]

4. BRAVO! You're absolutely right: we have only 10 years!

"we only have TEN years to avoid closing the window on being able to control the effects of the CO2 already up in our atmosphere"


They don't get it. I should have stated this in the OP; thanks for your valuable input.


Restore Gore, indeed. (I like your handle.)

[RestoreGore]

5. Sorry if I came off as angry...

But I am. And thanks.

[Duppers]

6. hey, no problem

I agree with you and am just sorry I didn't say what you did in my OP. My sincere thanks for correcting me. :thumbsup: :)

EVERYONE should be angry that more is not being done.

[RestoreGore]

17. I am so angry it brings me to tears

The poor and children of this world do not deserve this! What will it truly take for the idiots in DC to wake up? Another Katrina or worse? I even doubt that would move them since they only use tragedy to make a profit from it and fish for votes! Fed up doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this BS political process. Which is why it is now up to us, business, states, and other countriess to continue to push this govt. until they do something worth talking about. And thank you for your response.

[ryanmuegge]

29. If you're not angry, you're not paying attention.

.

[4dsc]

7. Not to mention

by the year 2020, the world will probably be producing 30-40% LESS OIL than it does today..

[Strelnikov_]

32. Bit of an Inconvenient Truth there

But, hey, the market will solve the problem. Thats what the economists tell us, anyway.

[rodeodance]

10. Dems are moving in baby steps so as not to upset the Repugs/WH. shameful that they have to do this.

[karynnj]

12. They are moving in baby steps to get something passed!

Even to pass something needs 60 votes - because the Republicans will fillibuster - they said they would.

Getting sometyhing passed now is better than getting nothing. The tougher things can be done when we have the power to do it. Passing this now does not mean it can't be strengthened in the future.

[RestoreGore]

16. Not if the "something" is nothing

The toughher things can be done when we have the power to do it? And just exactly when will that be? When the ARCTIC ice is completely melted? Isn't that what they all said before the November elections? What was the point of all of that if "we" still have no power? How much longer are we going to have to wait before they have the power? And it isn't so much about having power as much as it is about having a moral compass, which is really why this will never get properly done on the DC level. I'm so tired of all of these excuses, and that is exactly what they are because I already know that even among Democrats there is dissent to doing anything drastic that MUST be done because of representatives like John Dingell who are still beholding to his automaker constituents. It is the same old story... being told to be patient. Well, in the case of Mother Nature who knows no political distinctions, ask her to do that and see the answer you get.

[karynnj]

19. The entire bill is too little, but it is not nothing

It is the first improvement in the CAFE standards in 2 decades and significantly it includes SUVs.

Nor are the Senators who are actually working on this stopping here. There will be other bills. The Senators working to get this done do not lack moral compasses and they are not asking us to be "patient". One is Senator Kerry, who has been there with Gore, sense he was on Gore's committee which held the first Senate global warming hearings in 1987. He has been urging activism on the enviroment just as Gore has - because both know that the only way to get change is to have enough people considering it a voting issue. Kerry has used the example of the successful environmental movement of the 1970s that led to most of the environmental legislation we have.

The point of November is that even this - small as it is - would not be possible if the Republicans still controlled both houses of Congress.

[RestoreGore]

20. I'm still not satisfied

It isn't enough. Period.

[karynnj]

21. I doubt the leading Democrats on this issue are statisfied either

but it was clearly the best deal they were going to get - and far better than anything they got in the last 2 decades - even when they had a Democratic President. As I said, if you read what some of them have said - they are happy they got some real improvements, but that there is still far more to do. What do you think Gore could do if he were still Senator from Tennessee?

[RestoreGore]

22. This isn't a political issue to me nor a contest between Gore and Kerry

So why are you turning it into one? Are you only then making excuses for it because Kerry is a part of it? I don't care what Senators are a part of it, it isn't enough under the circumstances and that is simply a fact. Why can't you just state the truth that it isn't enough without it being a personal contest? And why do you think Mr. Gore is no longer in that BS system? It hasn't changed, and it isn't about to anytime soon from what I can see, and I am no longer impressed by the it was the best deal they were going to get excuse. Not at all. Not now. But thanks for validating that Washington DC is not the place to look for leadership on this crisis. And Al Gore as a Senator form Tennessee amy not have gotten more than this, but as a statesman out of that system he is now doing more than any Senator.

[karynnj]

27. There is NO reason to make excuses for it

This bill did move significantly in the right direction. Gore said there is likely no silver bullet - rather many different meassures "silver buckshot". Second, read what I said - I did not make it a Kerry/ Gore contest - just pointed out that they are both pushing for the same thing, with Kerry within the system and Gore outside it. You can be a purist saying you do want anything less than what you consider perfect - but that doesn't get you perfection, it gets you the status quo.

The best hope might be that this law which forces some change in Detroit will cause more change than the specified amount. That has happenned before. Given that they need to redo things and will likely see this is the first of several more stringent standards, they will go with the best they can achieve. Consider that people because of Gore, higher gas prices or wanting cleaner air may push the demand for more efficient cars. Demand change is a very effective means of creating change.

[Duppers]

3. more info from CNN

Senate passes energy bill, boosting mileage standards

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate passed an energy bill late Thursday that includes an increase in automobile fuel economy, new laws against energy price-gouging and a requirement for huge increases in the production of ethanol.

In an eleventh-hour compromise fashioned after two days of closed-door meetings, an agreement was reached to increase average fuel economy by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon for cars, SUVs and pickup trucks by 2020.

But the fuel economy issue threatened to topple the legislation up to the last minute. Majority Leader Harry Reid held off the vote until late into the evening so several senators could be called back to Capitol Hill to provide the 60-vote margin needed to overcome a threatened filibuster from pro-auto industry senators.

Shortly before midnight, senators voted 62-32 to cut off debate, and followed by passing the bill 65-27. The measure now awaits action by the House, which is expected to take it up next week. But attempts to combine the two bills and send legislation to President Bush probably won't be possible until later this year.

...Supporters said the new requirement would save 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2025, when large numbers of the more fuel-stingy cars will be on the road.

Republicans complained that the energy bill is tilted too much toward renewables and fuel efficiency and does nothing to boost domestic oil or natural gas production.

But its supporters said it reflects a shift to new energy priorities, away from promoting fossil fuels to supporting other energy sources such wind and biomass to make electricity and ethanol to power cars and trucks.

...But Democrats didn't get all that they wanted.

Republicans blocked Democratic efforts to pass a $32 billion package of tax incentives for renewable energy and clean fuels, objecting to increasing taxes on oil companies by $29 billion over 10 years to pay for it.

Democrats also were unable to include in the bill a requirement for electric utilities to produce at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable fuels such as wind and biomass. Senators from the South objected, saying the region couldn't meet such a standard, and Republicans REFUSED TO LET THE MEASURE COME UP FOR A VOTE.

...

The legislation also calls for:

• Price gouging provisions that make it unlawful to charge an "unconscionably excessive" price for oil products including gasoline and give the federal government new authority to investigate oil industry market manipulation.

• New appliance and lighting efficiency standards and a requirement that the federal government accelerate use of more efficient lighting in public buildings.

• Grants, loan guarantees and other assistance to promote research into fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids, advanced diesel and battery technologies. percent ethanol or biodiesel fuels.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/21/congress.energy.ap/index.html

=========================



Ethanol? Phooey! Ethanol is NOT a long-term answer.

"Republicans complained that the energy bill is tilted too much toward renewables and fuel efficiency and does nothing to boost domestic oil or natural gas production."
What? nothing to make them RICHER?!!

[jpak]

13. GOP success in dumping the national RPS was a major defeat for renewable energy advocates

It would have created millions of good paying high skilled jobs - and signifcantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

2008 can't come soon enough...

[Warren Stupidity]

8. It is a bad start. 2020? 35?

We are not serious at all about changing our use of fossil fuels. This is a piece of fluff.

[Duppers]

14. absolutely right

I misspoke; it is a BAD start, but I did say that 35mpg is not nearly enough....see RestoreGore's post.

[Altean Wanderer]

9. My LTTE Boston Globe on this issue ...

The article “Sununu a Key on Fuel Standards” (Boston Globe, June 20, 2007) had me shaking my head at the futility of this latest effort to raise automobile, SUV and light truck fuel efficiency standards. The debate shouldn’t be on whether an average of 35 mpg by 2020 or a somewhat more corporate friendly proposal pushing this requirement out to 2025 is the measure that Senator John Sununu should support. The most important figure in the article is the year 2020. Even an average of 40 mpg by 2020 is too little, too late. World oil production has been flat for the last three years, and the growing consensus of those taking peak oil seriously is that oil production will likely decline significantly after 2010 - 2012. We need these standards to be in place for the coming decade if the United States is to begin to mitigate the impact of reduced oil supplies and the concomitant increase in oil and gasoline prices that will occur as supply falls well short of demand. Today’s gasoline prices will seem low compared to what’s coming in the decades ahead. We’ll need much more fuel efficient vehicles well before 2020.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. Good letter. Well stated.

Lets hope it gets published. People need to wake up.

And we need some freaking leadership

[redqueen]

15. How misleading...

they seek to placate people... seeking actual fuel efficiency would take the courage to stand up to the oiligarchy, which clearly they don't have.

[RestoreGore]

18. "The bill was passed without any debate"

The assault on reason strikes again. :thumbsdown: After all, why should there be debate about a crisis that effects the very sustainability of our planet? That would be "Democratic," and lord knows we don't live in a Democracy anymore.

[mikelgb]

23. 30% less by the time it will have meant nothing

[NaturalHigh]

24. I already get 35+ mpg.

I would think we could do a little better by 2020.

[SKKY]

25. This is wussy incremental garbage people...

...we need real reform. This is why we voted for you!

[ryanmuegge]

30. It couldn't be said better.

The Democrats are blowing it on the biggest issue of our time. Just like they did from 1992-2000 when they did NOTHING at all to plan for the future in any way at all (well, at least Clinton didn't; a Gore presidency may have been a different story)...they were only concerned about riding out the fake internet bubble economy with cherry-picked economic statistics.

Like you say, we wanted real reform. They knew (and still know) the whole goddamn country, even most Republican voters...other than the super rich, wanted reform this time around. Still, though, they are giving us nothing.

Maybe they wanted to pass something they thought had a prayer of not being vetoed by Bush. Still, that's no excuse.

[silverlib]

26. They are using the Mayan calendar...

it will never happen. They know the world will end in 2012...

They must believe this or they would never have passed such a weak bill to perhaps appease their poor constituents and the oil companies.

[ryanmuegge]

28. Good thing we're doing this now, in 1982, rather than in 2007....

oh, wait.

[Strelnikov_]

31. Considering you will only be able to travel 175 mi on the 5 gal/month gas ration

in 2020, I'm a thinkin' 35 mpg ain't gonna quite cut it.