Phil Compton with the Sierra Club of Florida said, "This is a huge victory for us and the as we've all heard, the biggest single step the President could take to reduce our dependence on oil!
Michael Brune is the Executive Director with The Sierra Club. He expanded on the national environmental group;s excitement:
“Today’s proposal is a big win for American families and will prove to be a big boost for our economy. President Obama has secured a decade of progress toward breaking our dangerous addiction to oil, creating American jobs, curbing life-threatening pollution and tackling climate disruption. American families will see much-needed relief at the gas pump as the auto industry moves toward a better, more efficient generation of American cars.
“To put it in perspective, in 2030 these standards will save American families $44 billion at the gas pump, reduce our oil use by 23 billion gallons, and cut carbon pollution by an amount equal to the annual emissions from 72 coal-fired power plants — and that’s all just in one year. "
The Automobile Dealers Association has criticized the added cost to cars and light trucks, saying it could cost jobs in the U.S. at a time of high unemployment. Two agencies said in a draft that the proposal could cost the auto companies $157 billion.
The White House said the proposed standards alone "will slash oil consumption by 4 billion barrels and cut 2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in those years."
