New Data: Clean Cars Will Save Mainers $189 Million at Gas Pump, Cut Oil Use & Global Warming Pollution

Environment Maine

Portland, ME—New clean car standards will save the average Maine family $329 annually at the gas pump in 2030, according to a new analysis released today by Environment Maine.  The analysis, from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council, also found that the new federal fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards being developed by the Obama administration for cars and light trucks in model years 2017-2025 would in 2030 save Mainers $189 million overall, cut oil use in the state by 97 million gallons, and reduce global warming pollution by 1,145,000 metric tons—equivalent to eliminating the annual carbon pollution from nearly 225,000 average cars. This is the first analysis of the benefits of the specific standards that President Obama outlined this summer.

“Clean cars are a win-win for Maine’s environment and our economy,” said Andrew Francis, Field Associate with Environment Maine.  “By moving ahead with the strongest possible clean car standards, the Obama administration is poised to help save Mainers at the gas pump, cut dangerous carbon pollution, and move our country away from oil.” 

In July, President Obama announced his outline for the new 2017-2025 standards, which will require that new cars and trucks meet the equivalent of a 54.5 miles-per-gallon fleetwide average by 2025.  Nationwide, the UCS-NRDC analysis projected that these standards could save Americans $44 billion by 2030, cut oil use by 23 billion gallons, and cut global warming pollution by 280 million tons of CO2—making this the single biggest step this country has ever taken to get off oil and tackle global warming.  The outline was applauded by the majority of automakers and the United Auto Workers, as well as numerous environmental and consumer groups.  

“Americans are paying the price for our addiction to oil not only at the pump but also overseas in war zones,” said Andrew Campbell, an Iraq war veteran of the Maine Army National Guard and member of Operation Free. “A clean and independent energy policy translates into a strong national security policy and that means stronger standards for cars now.”

Environment Maine called on the Obama administration to avoid including loopholes in the final standards that would undermine the potential consumer savings and pollution reductions.  The Administration is expected to officially propose the standards in mid-November and finalize them next summer.

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Environment Maine is a statewide, citizen-based advocacy organization dedicated to clean air, clean water, and open space. For more information, please visit www.environmentmaine.org