"America's dangerous reliance on foreign oil continues to harm American consumers by driving up the price of heating oil and gasoline," said Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. "If we don't increase CAFE standards, America will grow more and more dependent on foreign oil – and the price of oil and gas will rise accordingly."
The United States currently is nearly 60 percent reliant on foreign oil. This reliance is expected to increase to 75 percent in fifteen years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
"Increasing the CAFE standards for SUVs and light trucks is a key step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as weaning ourselves from foreign oil," said Senator Collins. "SUVs and light trucks have given America's fleet the lowest fuel efficiency rating in 20 years. By enacting this legislation, we will save one million barrels of oil per day."
Currently, cars must meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards of 27.5 miles per gallon. However, a separate category --- created in 1975 when an SUV's primary function was hauling cargo instead of passengers --- relaxes the fuel economy standard for light duty trucks, minivans, and sport utility vehicles. SUVs and light-duty trucks now comprise almost half of the new car sales in the United States.
The CAFE bill has been praised by environmentalists in Maine and across the nation. In Maine, 40 percent of all CO2 comes from cars and light trucks. This bill not only curbs climate-changing pollution that affects the entire world, but it also will help save Mainers money at the gas pump and go further on a gallon of gas when we drive our trucks and SUVs.
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