There’s a virtual march on DC to make global warming a real priority and it has some interesting twists, like building an effort and doing media ads in several cities before arriving in DC next year. Doesn’t look half-baked (pun intended) and worth at least a look and pass along:
CAMPAIGN LINK
It seems well set up to spread across the net (and blogs)..What if millions join? Below the fold is an article I just wrote on the ‘new’ CAFE standards. (I do a weekly radio piece and this is upcoming)
Well, it finally happened. The day has come when I may have to eat a plate of warm crow. The Bush Administration has announced its intention to raise the average miles per gallon that light trucks and SUV’s must get (known as the CAFE standards). Some time ago I said I would eat my words if the CAFE standards got raised. I’ll let WERU listeners decide if, based on the recent announcement, what I’ll be dining on. Here’s what was announced:
“With gas prices continuing to rise, the Bush administration proposed new rules to compel auto manufacturers to make pickup trucks, minivans and some sport utility vehicles more fuel efficient….” OK so far. More efficient vehicles on the higher end of the gas guzzling spectrum. I’ll need some tin foil. To attract that crow, not for my hat…
The proposal would require the auto industry to raise standards for most vehicles other than cars beginning in 2008. All automakers would have to comply with the new system by 2011.” … Other than cars…hmmm, and the new system would be in place by 2011. Well, that’s only 6 YEARS away. Soon enough to gain some independence from that foreign oil isn’t it? I mean what’s the rush.
Under the current system, automakers must maintain an average of 21 mpg for light trucks and will have to meet 22.2 mpg for the 2007 model year. It represents an average of manufacturers’ entire fleet of light trucks….Ok, now hold on…the old system kicked in higher CAFÉ standards starting in 2007 and the new one starts in 2008? And this is better? Someone has to explain. Ah, here we go….
The new system would divide light trucks into six categories based on size. Smaller vehicles would have to get better gas mileage than larger trucks.
Automakers could opt to comply with the old system through 2010 or to meet the standards in the six categories. If they stayed with the old system, they would have to meet a 22.5 mpg average by 2008, 23.1 mpg in 2009 and 23.5 mpg by 2010. …This is starting to get confusing..but well, it’s the government so what do you expect but comparing the two plans and taking into account the different categories what do the experts say?
“This is a plan that will save gas and result in less pain at the pump for motorists without sacrificing safety,” Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said….There. that should do it. Now I can go crow hunting. From my last experience eating crow, I’ll need some salt, a little pepper and maybe a dash of…now, wait a minute. Hold on. Let’s take a look at those numbers again, shall we?
OK, what it boils down to is a less than 10% increase in fuel efficiency in 40% of the vehicles we drive and phased in over a longer period of time plus by creating the six categories of `light trucks’ there’s nothing to stop manufacturers from making their current trucks weigh a tad more bumping them into higher categories where they could get the same mpg they are now. Give me back my tin foil you smart crow. I gotta take another look. This proposed rule is just that, a proposed rule meaning it will under go a 90 day public comment period (lobbyists, ready those engines) adjusted and then made final in another oh, year or so. The important thing is the Administration announced a change in the rules. Kinda, sorta, maybe. “The proposal is almost embarrassing in terms of its effect on fuel consumption,” said Eric Haxthausen of Environmental Defense.
Here’s my plan. It’s simpler by half and could put a whole flock of crows in danger. Each of us make a commitment to increasing our net mpg by 25% in 2 years. There are lots of ways to do this. The easiest one is to drive less. That’s right. Not driving will increase your mpg. Cut the use of a vehicle by 10% will have a dramatic, and I mean dramatic effect. Walk, bicycle, car pool, whatever it takes to not drive one day a week. Telecommute one day a week. Simply refuse to use the car one day a week. Combine all your shopping trips into one day. No more back and forth.
Bite the bullet and trade in that gas guzzler for a hybrid or other high mpg vehicle. Stuck in an old vehicle and still having to drive a lot? Can’t afford to trade up? Start a co-op with your neighbors…seriously, go in together and buy a high mpg vehicle that everyone uses one day a week. Save up some of your trips for that day. In other words, get creative but do Something. Junior wants a car. They can use a bike until they saved up enough money. Whatever it takes. If you’re driving a vehicle that gets less than 35mpg, now, today, you’re driving down the road to ruin and that’s a plain fact.
