From:
Allison.Forbes@sierraclub.org [mailto:Allison.Forbes@sierraclub.org]
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007
6:03 PM
To: Allison.Forbes@sierraclub.org
Subject: [energy activists]
VICTORY in 9th circuit court! Act Now!
Fuel economy victory!
Court cites failure to address costs of global warming...
On
November 15, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the Bush
Administration’s new light truck fuel economy standards. The Administration’s
new standards for SUVs, minivans and pickups would increase fuel economy a
meager 1.3 mpg from 2007 to model year 2010. The court ordered the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) back to the drawing board to
close a loophole for SUVs as well as to account for the benefits of reducing
greenhouse gas pollution in its cost-benefit analyses of new standards –
factors that should lead to higher standards!
This
decision comes at a time when Congress is considering raising fuel economy
standards for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020, an increase which would
save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day in 2020. This court decision
should impel Congress
to fulfill its role in setting fuel economy standards, reducing global warming
pollution and our oil dependence.
We
can’t rely on the Bush administration to set meaningful increases in fuel
economy. This is why it is imperative that Congress pass final energy
legislation to raise fuel economy standards, as well as establish a renewable
electricity standard, before the end of the year.
Please respond to this news by writing a Letter to the Editor
(LTE) and sending to your local and state newspapers.
Talking points
·
On November 15, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
found that the Bush Administration had failed to consider the benefits of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions in setting fuel economy standards for light
trucks.
·
We cannot afford the costs of failing to act on
global warming and consumers deserve vehicles that go farther on a gallon of
gas.
·
Congress has an opportunity to make real progress in
reducing global warming pollution and our oil dependence by passing final
energy legislation this year that will set us on the path to getting 35 mpg in
2020.
·
Rep _______ /Senators ________ and ____________
should help pass final energy legislation NOW to raise fuel economy standards
and establish a national renewable electricity standard.
SUV loophole talking points
·
Light trucks contribute eight percent of
·
Many light trucks, or SUVs, are intended as
passenger vehicles and should be required to meet fuel economy standards that
reflect their use.
·
The Ninth Circuit Court ordered the Administration
to close the “SUV loophole,” which increases global warming pollution and oil
dependence.
Sample LTE
[As
reported in the article, “XXXXX,”] the Ninth Circuit court found the
Administration failed in its responsibility to set fuel economy standards that
reflect the urgency of reducing global warming pollution. It also found that
light trucks and SUVs used as passenger vehicles should be required to meet
standards that reflect their use. The technology is available to make all cars
and trucks to go farther on a gallon of gas and we all would like to save money
at the gas pump while reducing global warming pollution.
Congress
has an opportunity to make real progress in reducing global warming pollution
and our oil dependence by bringing final energy legislation across the finish
line this year. The House and Senate have each passed crucial energy
provisions, including a gradual increase in fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by
2020. We cannot afford the costs of failing to act.
Rep.
___________ can help flip the switch on our clean energy future by supporting a
national renewable electricity standard of 15 percent by 2020, higher fuel
economy standards and energy efficiency standards
Sample LTE
[As
reported in the article, “XXXXX,”] the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
determined that the Administration must consider the tremendous benefits of
reducing greenhouse gas pollution in its fuel economy proposal for light
trucks. Congress should do the same.
We
cannot afford the costs of failing to act on global warming. While NHTSA goes
back to the drawing board to revise its light truck ruling, Congress needs to
move forward to get the energy bill across the finish line so that we can begin
to see real improvements in fuel economy.
Last
summer, the Senate voted to raise fuel economy standards for cars and light
trucks to a modest 35 mpg by 2020, and the House required electric utilities to
produce a percentage of the energy from renewable sources. Rep. ___________
should help pass final legislation before the end of the year.
Articles
USA
Today www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-11-15-court-fuel_N.htm
ABC
News http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=capitol_reports&id=5764610
Detroit
Free Press http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MI_FUEL_ECONOMY_MIOL-?SITE=MIDTF&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
San
Jose Mercury News www.mercurynews.com/ci_7479269?nclick_check=1
Columbus
Dispatch www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2007/11/16/Fuel_standards_1116.ART_ART_11-16-07_A1_TH8G73O.html?sid=101
Washington
Post www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/15/AR2007111502633.html?nav=rss_email/components
Did
your state or local newspapers print the story? If they did, respond with an
LTE calling on Congress to act now! If they didn't, write a letter anyway! You
can find more sample LTEs at www.sierraclub.org/flip/do
Sierra Club press release
(attached)
Allison
Forbes
National Conservation Organizer
Sierra Club Global Warming and Energy Program
(202) 548-6583