Had the Bush Administration tightened fuel economy standards four years ago--mandating that cars and light trucks get 40 miles to the gallon (mpg)-- American consumers would already be enjoying substantial benefits.

According to the report, the U.S. would be consuming 350,000 fewer barrels of oil per day-- more than half of current U.S. imports from Iraq-- if the government had mandated that the automobile industry make use of the fuel efficiency technology that already existed in 2001.

Such a decrease in fuel consumption would also reduce U.S. carbon dioxide by 23.9 million tons, significantly lowering the country’s contribution to global warming.

The PIRG report cites a National Academy of Sciences study which found that the automobile industry could increase fuel economy to 40 mpg over the next decade.

Instead, despite substantial advancement in fuel efficiency technology, average fuel economy is actually at a 24- year low. America averages only 20.8 mpg for model year 2004 cars and light trucks-- six percent lower than the peak of 22.1 mpg in 1987 and 1988.

The reduction is due in large part to the Bush Administration’s opposition to proposals that would increase fuel economy. Rather than take advantage of the latest innovations in fuel efficiency technology, the Bush Administration has pushed an energy bill that will actually increase U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

The Energy Information Administration found that the current energy bill would increase imports of foreign oil by 85 percent by 2025.

Additionally, the House has dropped more than $3 billion in incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the latest version of the bill-- while allocating $8 billion worth of subsidies and tax breaks to the cash-rich oil and gas industry.

Last year the top 10 oil companies raked in $100 billion in profits, a 30-percent increase from 2003.

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SOURCES:
"America Idles: President Bush’s Inaction Costs Americans $5 Billion at the Pump in 2005," US PIRG, May 17, 2005.