6 May 2001: A bipartisan group of US senators want to close a loophole in federal law that allows sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light duty trucks to get fewer miles per gallon than passenger cars, a move they say would save huge amounts of oil and significantly reduce the impact on the environment.
The lawmakers' plan to boost fuel efficiency of SUVs comes at a time when the Bush administration is focusing on ways to increase oil and gas drilling and downplaying the role of conservation.
Under the new legislation, automakers would have six years to improve the fuel efficiency of SUVs and light trucks to match that of cars.
The change would save one million barrels of oil a day, reduce oil imports and cut carbon dioxide emissions, according to the bill's sponsors -- California Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Maine's two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
At a time of rising gasoline and energy prices, increasing fuel efficiency is the single most effective action we can take to limit our reliance on foreign oil, save consumers at the pump, and reduce global warming, said Feinstein.
It is hard to believe but the US market consumes about 20 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products a day.
As Snownes puts it: "This bill is a down-payment on our responsibility to leave our children not only a cleaner world with cleaner air, but a nation more secure because it is less dependent on energy from abroad."
Separately, a new study by The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy found that boosting the fuel efficiency of new cars and light trucks by just 5 percent a year would cut US oil use by 1.5 million barrels per day.
Over a period of 40 years, the improvement would save at least 10 times the amount of crude oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to the non-profit group.
"Simply improving vehicle fuel economy 5 percent a year will do more to enhance US energy security than all the oil drilling the Bush administration is going to call for in its forthcoming plan," said Howard Geller, author of the study.
Vice President Dick Cheney says his energy task force will recommend various ways to increase US oil and natural gas production as part of a national energy plan. .
Cheney, the former top executive at oilfield services giant Halliburton Co and Bush, a former Texas oilman, have been accused by environmental groups of being too eager to drill for more oil rather than finding ways to limit demand.
The Senate legislation noted that about half all of new vehicles sold in the US are SUVs and light trucks, which average 6.8 fewer miles to the gallon than cars due to a loophole in federal law from 1975 that allows them to have lower fuel efficiency.
SUVs and light trucks have lower gas mileage, because at the time the fuel standards were adopted these vehicles were used mostly for agriculture and commerce.
Currently, SUVs and light duty trucks are required to get an average 20.7 miles per gallon while passenger cars must average 27.5 mpg.
The legislation would require SUVs and light trucks to meet the higher fuel standard for cars by 2007.
The legislation would apply to vehicles that weigh up to 10,000 pounds. The current fuel efficiency standards apply to vehicles up to 8,500 pounds.
Feinstein said the higher fuel standards would save the average SUV owner $420 per year if gasoline cost $2 a gallon, a price it has already reached in many areas of the country.
