STATEMENT: Trump admin greenlights dirtier, less efficient vehicles

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration announced Monday that it will loosen minimum fuel economy standards for American cars. These standards have long saved Americans energy, money, and lives. Now, that progress is at risk as the current administration moves the 2031 fuel economy target from 50.4 miles per gallon to 34.9 miles per gallon. 

Congress first established vehicle fuel economy standards in 1975. Since then, they have helped to reduce America’s vehicle-related carbon emissions by 14 billion metric tons – equivalent to a year’s worth of pollution produced by 3,694 coal plants. 

In response to the administration’s fuel economy standard rollback, Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Executive Director Lisa Frank released this statement:

“Vehicle efficiency standards have been a great success story, helping Americans to breathe easier and making our environment cleaner. This rollback puts that progress in grave danger.

Using less energy to do the same thing is just common sense. This move will result in more waste, more pollution and increased threats to our health.”

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Environment America Research and Policy Center has one mission that drives everything we do: to protect our natural world. We envision a better, greener America: one that protects and restores more places where all life can thrive and offers us and our children the opportunity to live healthier, more enriching lives.