Posted by Jane Clark

Sierra Club News Release
For Immediate Release    August 30, 2001

Contact: Joanie Clayburgh (415) 977-5508

MOST AMERICANS COULD SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR WITH HIGHER MPG

New Sierra Club Website Shows Americans How Much They Can Save At The Pump

Washington, DC -- The Sierra Club today launched a website called "I want
my MPG" which helps car owners to plug in their make and model and
determine their annual fuel costs and savings if the miles per gallon (MPG)
standards are raised. The website is at www.sierraclub.org/iwantmympg/

"MTV exploded onto our TVs 20 years ago when the MPG standards were set,"
said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. "But fuel economy standards
haven't been updated since the days of Captain & Tennille - even though the
technology exists to create cars that use less fuel, save money at the
pump, and produce less global warming and air pollution. Our website shows
that each car owner could save hundreds of dollars with higher miles per
gallon standards and we could save the planet too."

The website is similar to a blue book and has mpg information on almost
every make and model of car. A visitor can enter the cost of gas in their
neighborhood and find out how much money they could save if MPG standards
are raised. In addition to the mpg calculator, the website features
animation of a disgruntled car highlighting the fact that technology for
auto fuel economy has stagnated since the mid '70s.

For example, if you own a 16.8 mpg Ford Explorer you spend $1600 on gas but
if the MPG was raised, the Explorer would get 33 mpg, saving you $790 each
year on gas

The House of Representatives voted down a bill this July that would have
raised the fuel economy standard of SUVs and light trucks to the same level
as cars over the next 6 years. Increasing the fuel economy of automobiles
not only saves consumers money but is the biggest single step the United
States can take to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and the threat of
global warming. Over 40 percent of the oil we use in this country goes into
cars and trucks.

Getting more miles out of a gallon of gas means saving consumers money at
the gas pump, lessening our dangerous reliance on oil, lowering levels of
carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution, reducing pressure to drill in sensitive
environments, enhancing energy security. Raising the miles per gallon
standard would save more oil than can be derived from the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.

"Everyone should make their voice heard," continued Pope. "Auto makers
won't act unless Americans stand up and say "I want my MPG!""
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