fuel efficency

In 1993, the Energy department financed the creation of a car that could get 80mpg; this car was to be released in 2004. On March 10, 2001 President Bush canceled the program. His reason for this w

With Iraq the sixth highest supplier of oil to the United States environmentalists and Democrats feel that a war with Iraq is really a Republican war against the environment. With pressure from Democrats and environmental special interest groups rallying and putting pressure on the new Republican controlled congress the chance of a change in the fuel efficiency requirements is probable. The problem is that the war with Iraq will not wait for 2004 when car companies will be releasing cars, trucks and SUV’s that can get better than the minimum requirement for fuel efficiency. If the war with Iraq happens, the gas prices will increase because the OPEC nations are closely connected to Iraq.

On the 14th of March 2002, the United States Senate rejected a 50% hike in fuel efficiency for gas guzzling vehicles. The reason cited for this rejection was that the senators did not feel it was right to force mothers in their home states to drive a less desirable small car that was not as safe, because it was more fuel efficient. They also stated that raising the fuel efficiency for trucks would affect construction workers, because they would need to make the trucks smaller and a lighter weight to raise the fuel efficiency. Another reason cited was a change in fuel efficiency requirements would make cars less safe. Republican Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio said, “Simply put, you cannot increase CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards without increasing fatalities. (8)” The supporters of this change in fuel efficiency criticized the senators for buckling under the pressure from automakers and labor unions who opposed the 50% fuel efficiency increase. While the Democrats and Republicans both agree that there is a definite need for an increase in fuel efficiency, neither side can agree on any way to fix the problem. With the Republicans gaining control of the House and Senate, it is possible that some sort of legislation will occur in the next 2 years.

The policies like the September 20th fuel efficiency change which are small changes to the fuel efficiency are clearly on the more conservative or Republican part of the political spectrum. These policies involve little to no government spending to raise the efficiency. While the policies that involve drastic changes are more liberal, these changes come with a large amount of government spending. For example, the super car program started in 1993 was championed by former Vice President Al Gore; this program spent $1.4 billion dollars since it was implemented until the time it was canceled in 2001 by Republican President George W. Bush. The recent rejection of legislation by the senate to raise fuel efficiency by 50% in trucks and SUV’s shows how the special interest groups that are supported by labor unions and automakers can effect the decision of senators. As seen by the comments of Democrat Richard Durbin of Illinois, "The Senate will bow down to the special interests this mor

Some topics in this essay:
President Bush, Middle East, , Republicans Republicans, Car Program, Iraq Republican, Republican Party, House Senate, United Senate, fuel efficiency, Republicans Democrats, change fuel efficiency, change fuel, fuel cell, war iraq, fossil fuels, trucks suv’s, super car, fossil fuel, efficiency standards, barrels oil, super car program, fuel efficiency trucks, fuel efficiency standards, cars trucks suv’s,