FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2008CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384         Sierra Club Applauds Strong Start for New Fuel Economy Rules           New Standards Come as Oil, Gas Prices Shatter Records Washington, D.C.--On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed into law theEnergy Security and Independence Act, which, for the first time since 1975,raises fuel economy standards.  The law directs the Department ofTransportation to set fuel economy standards for new cars, minivans, SUVs,crossover vehicles, and trucks to achieve a fleet wide average fuel economyof at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020. In response to the new law, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters todayproposed increasing the fleet wide fuel economy standard to 31.6 miles pergallon by 2015.  This achieves more than half of the total progressmandated by Congress by the program's midpoint. Statement of Ann Mesnikoff, Sierra Club Washington Representative "Strong new rules for fuel economy couldn't come at a better time.  Pain atthe pump is growing more acute each day as gas prices continue toskyrocket.  These new rules will put us on the path toward lower energycosts and greater energy independence. "We welcome this important first step toward higher vehicle fuel economy,which Secretary Peters outlined today.  When we hit 35 miles per gallon in2020, we will save one million barrels of oil each day, keep billions ofdollars in Americans' pockets and out of Big Oil's, and help keep millionsof tons of global warming pollution out of the atmosphere. "This shows that when Congress gives clear direction, the Department ofTransportation can step up and set standards that push Detroit to takefuel-saving technologies off of its shelves and into the vehicles Americanswant to buy. "We are pleased with today's proposal, but remain extremely disappointedthat the Bush administration continues to block the efforts of Californiaand more than a dozen other states to move forward with landmark greenhouseemissions standards for vehicles. # # #
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