# Clean Cars Would Cut Pollution, Save Americans $66 Billion at the Gas Pump This Summer

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/clean-cars-would-cut-pollution-save-americans-66-billion-at-the-gas-pump-this-summer/
- Published: 2011-05-07T23:59:06-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

**_Source: Environment America_**

As the average price of gas creeps closer to $4 per gallon and Americans brace for
further price increases, a new Environment America Research & Policy Center report
finds that more fuel efficient cars would save the average American family $513 
at the gas pump this summer alone. The report was released as the Obama administration
is developing new fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards for cars
and light trucks.

“Americans shouldn’t have to spend their summers worrying about how they will afford
to drive, let alone whether their driving is polluting the air their kids breathe,
or whether their beaches will be safe from oil spills like last summer’s BP Deepwater
Horizon disaster.  President Obama can help solve all these problems in one fell
swoop by helping America to get off oil. Ensuring our cars get 60 miles per gallon
would be a bold step in that direction,” said Margie Alt, Executive Director of 
Environment America. “Our report shows that burning less oil in more efficient cars
will also mean burning less cash, saving Americans $66 billion in one summer alone.
That extra cash in our families’ pockets will mean enjoying that drive to the shore,
arriving confident that the beaches will be clean, and having enough money left 
over to book a hotel and stick around for a week to enjoy the surf.”

Based on current gas prices, Americans are expected to spend more than $130 billion
at the gas pump this summer.  With little relief in sight from high gas prices, 
and our oil consumption continuing to have dire consequences for our health and 
environment, Environment America pointed to reducing our dependence on oil as the
only viable solution.

Environment America was joined by the Sierra Club in releasing today’s report.

“The ordeal we’re facing at the pump is just one of the many consequences of our
oil addiction – it threatens our economy, our environment, our national security
and our health,” said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.  “Making
better, more fuel efficient cars will not only provide better choices to consumers,
but will also save American families money at the pump, reduce life-threatening 
pollution, create jobs, decrease our dependence on foreign oil and move our nation
forward, Beyond Oil.”

Requiring cars and trucks to meet a 60 mpg standard would be a major step toward
getting off oil and decreasing pollution, reducing America’s oil consumption over
the summer by 16.9 billion gallons and reducing dangerous carbon dioxide pollution
by 160 million metric tons.

Last year, recognizing the benefits of increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing
our oil dependence, the Obama administration set standards for new cars and trucks
built between 2012 and 2016 that will save billions of gallons of fuel.

Today, Environment America and Sierra Club called on President Obama to take the
next step and move clean cars into the fast lane by making 60 miles per gallon cars
the norm and not the exception to the rule.

“Clean cars would make our [fun in the sun](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/07/aqua-port-solar-powered-sun-cruiser-hassle-free-fun/)
all that much better this summer and for summers into the future, benefiting America’s
families, our economy and our environment,” said Margie Alt.  “The Obama administration
should push ahead with the [clean car standards](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/02/going-to-u-s-court-for-clean-car-standards/)
that will make these benefits a reality.  It’s time to get this country off oil.”

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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