New Data: President Obama's Fuel Efficiency Standards will save Massachusetts Residents $881 Million at the Gas Pump

News Release: October 5, 2011

New Data: President Obama’s Fuel Efficiency Standards will save Massachusetts Residents $881 Million at the Gas Pump, Reduce Pollution and Cut Our Addiction to Oil

[Boston, MA] – New fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks will save the average Massachusetts family $327 annually at the gas pump in 2030, according to a new analysis released today by the Sierra Club. The analysis, from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council, also finds that the Obama administration’s proposed fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards for cars and light trucks will save Massachusetts families $881 million overall, and reduce carbon pollution in Massachusetts by more than 5 million tons annually in 2030 -- equivalent to taking approximately 700,000 cars off the road in the Commonwealth in that year.

“Cars and trucks that use less gas are a win-win for Massachusetts’s economy and our environment,” said James McCaffrey, Director for the Massachusetts Sierra Club. “The Obama administration’s new fuel efficiency standards ensure 15 years of continuous progress to help save Massachusettsresidents money at the gas pump, create jobs, curb life-threatening pollution, and help move our country beyond oil.”

In July, President Obama announced his outline for the new model year 2017-2025 standards, which will ensure that new cars and light trucks average 54.5 mpg and reduce tailpipe carbon emissions to 163 grams per mile by 2025. Due to outdated testing methods, the 54.5 mpg standard will mean consumers in 2025 can expect new vehicles to average approximately 40 mpg on road.

Nationwide, the UCS/NRDC analysis projected that thesestandards will save Americans $44 billion by 2030, cut oil use by 23 billion gallons, and cut carbon pollution by 280 million metric tons—making this the biggest single step this country has ever taken to move beyond oil and tackle climate disruption. The outline was applauded by the majority of automakers and the United Auto Workers, as well as numerousenvironmental and consumer groups.

The Sierra Club also called on the Obama administration to avoid including loopholes and industry giveaways in the final standard thatwould undermine consumer savings and pollution reductions. The Administration is expected to officially propose the standards in mid-November and finalize them by next summer.

To download the full report, which was released today in coordination with Go60mpg – a joint effort of Environment America, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Safe Climate Campaign, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists – please visit:

http://www.go60mpg.org/docs/NRDC_UCS-State_by_State_Savings-FINAL_9-11.pdf

- 30 -