Major U.S. Businesses Call on EPA to Keep Strong MPG and Emissions Standards

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ - A national network of influential American businesses is calling on the Trump administration to maintain robust fuel-economy and emissions standards for passenger vehicles, and expressing support for states' rights to maintain those standards.

A letter from the Ceres BICEP Network to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt points out that the strong national miles-per-gallon and emissions standards already in place represent "a critical opportunity to strengthen the U.S. economy, enhance the global competitiveness of the auto industry, create jobs, and help us meet our climate goals. Weakening the National Program is not only legally unjustified but would also undermine these benefits and regulatory certainty." 

The Ceres BICEP Network letter also expresses opposition to any attempts to undermine states' rights to realize the benefits of the current federal standards by weakening them. The current federal standards are consistent with standards that California and 12 other states have adopted. 

"These 13 states represent 113 million U.S. residents, or 35 percent of the U.S. market for cars and trucks," said Anne Kelly, senior director of policy and the BICEP Network at Ceres. "We strongly support these states' rights to protect their citizens and help them take advantage of the economic, health, and environmental benefits of cleaner, more efficient transportation." 

The EPA is reconsidering the standards now on the books, which cover passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks through model year 2025. A decision is expected within weeks. 

Ceres BICEP Network members represent $400 billion in annual revenue, and feature some of America's foremost corporations, from Avon to General Mills to Mars, Incorporated to Unilever. They want the existing fuel-economy and emissions standards to stay in place. 

"Keeping the current standards will strengthen the U.S. economy, save businesses and consumers money, enhance the global competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry, provide the regulatory certainty needed to spur innovation, reduce both our dependence on oil and climate risk, and create jobs," Kelly added. 

The EPA is reconsidering fuel economy and emissions standards despite evidence that by establishing a level playing field and firm goals, consistent and enduring national standards are helping U.S. automakers and their suppliers stay competitive in an increasingly global market that continues to move toward greater efficiency and cleaner transportation. American automakers have been enjoying strong years of sales and profits even as they have continued to meet fuel-efficiency targets.

An economic analysis by the sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres found that the current federal standards would reduce risk for the Detroit Three and benefit suppliers. In contrast, weakening the standards could undermine industry economic performance, particularly for suppliers, who employ over two and a half times more Americans than the automakers, and who have relied on the national targets to make major investments in advanced automotive technologies that cut emissions and improve gas mileage.  

Read the full letter to EPA Administrator Pruitt here. 

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Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. The Ceres BICEP Network comprises influential companies advocating for stronger climate and clean energy policies at the state and federal level in the U.S. For more information, visit www.ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.