Where there's a Will, there's a way

The Clean Car Bill is shaping up to be the top priority of Illinois environmental groups in this year's state legislative session. A poll commissioned last week by a coalition of groups called the Illinois Climate Action Network shows 89% of Illinois residents support the Clean Car Act even with more up front costs for vehicles. This is an issue where overwhelming public opinion and good policy are pitted against short sighted, wealthy special interests.

It amazes me that so many legislators are still siding with the oil and auto industries with gas prices over $4.00 per gallon. The oil industry approach of fighting emissions and mileage standards has failed, and their outrageous doomsday scenarios about the disasters that will result from more regulation don't stand up to the facts.

You can download the complete results for the poll here.

One part I find interesting is strong support for the Clean Car Act among union households despite the United Auto Workers short sighted decision to stand with the auto manufacturers. The UAW leadership needs to take notice that their members who make over-sized gas guzzlers are the ones losing their jobs right now. Environmental regulations aren't the problem. Frankly, the UAW national leadership owes their members an apology for years of standing beside industry CEO's who fought the very fuel economy standards that might have saved more American jobs. When are they going to stop repeating the same mistakes?

Below is a copy of the press release about the poll from ICAN:

Illinois Climate Action Network
Illinois CAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

ILLINOIS RESIDENTS SEE CLEAN CARS AS SOLUTION TO HIGH GAS PRICES
89% of State in Favor of Paying More Up Front to Save Even More Later

Chicago, IL – From Cairo to Carol Stream, from Collinsville to Charleston, Illinois residents are saying loud and clear that they want cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. In a statewide poll conducted by InTouch, a remarkable 89% of people surveyed said they support or strongly support the idea of paying $1,000 more for a new car at the time of purchase if they can recoup those costs in gas savings within two years. Even more remarkable is that 65% of those surveyed put themselves in the “strongly support” column.

The poll comes just days before an expected crucial vote in the Illinois House of Representatives on House Bill 3424, sponsored by Karen May (D-Highwood). The legislation would require Illinois to adopt the Clean Car Standards already in effect in 14 other states nationwide. These standards are significantly stricter than those of the federal government, and include a landmark regulation of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming. The worse the fuel efficiency, the more carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted—so as cars use less gas, they emit less CO2.

When compared to the recently-revised federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, 85% of respondents support requiring stronger standards that would take effect more quickly. The Clean Car Standards will be phased in over an eight-year period; the average fuel economy for passenger cars will start at six miles more per gallon than under the new CAFE program and will increase to 9.5 miles per gallon more in the final year. By 2020, the Clean Car Standards will save Illinois drivers nearly $1.9 billion in fuel costs compared to the new federal CAFE standards. Moreover, by reducing demand for gasoline, the Clean Car Standards will help keep gas prices in check.

Noteworthy in this election year was the finding that 73% of those surveyed said they would be more likely to support a candidate who votes in favor of adopting the Clean Car Standards, while only 11% who would support a candidate opposed to the legislation.

“In this era of $4/gallon gas, people need long-term help,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Adopting the Clean Car Standards is a true win-win-win: Good for our economy, good for our environment, and good for our respiratory health.”

“We commend Rep. May for her leadership on this important issue,” added Rebecca Stanfield, state director of Environment Illinois. “Now it’s time for the entire General Assembly to sit up and take notice. Our state’s residents are on record saying they want cleaner, more fuel efficient cars.”

“Between now and 2020, global warming pollution will be reduced by around 40% more in Illinois under the Clean Car Standards than the new CAFE program,” said Ron Burke, Director of the Midwest Office for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national group. “Plus, the new CAFE program does nothing more to reduce smog-forming pollutants, which will be cut under the Clean Car Standards.”

Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club’s Illinois chapter, added, “What’s so encouraging about the poll results is that they’re close to uniform statewide. Adopting the Clean Car Standards totally unites our state. Urban folks, rural folks—everyone wants more fuel efficient, cleaner cars, SUVs, and pick-ups.”

Of note is that the $1,000 incremental cost for a vehicle complying with the Clean Car Standards will not be reached until model year 2016. The additional costs will be lower in earlier years, meaning that drivers will recoup those dollars even more quickly through fuel savings.

The Clean Car Standards are supported by a wide range of constituencies. For example, poll results were identical in union and non-union households, with a slightly higher proportion of union respondents saying they would gladly foot a higher bill for a new car up front, in exchange for lower gas prices down the road.

InTouch conducted the poll of 1,798 residents on May 22, 2008. Its margin of error is +-2.31%.

The poll was commissioned by the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environment Illinois, Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The groups are members of the Illinois Climate Action Network.

The mission of the Illinois Climate Action Network is to advocate for the policies necessary in Illinois to reduce global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Illinois CAN member groups are: CNTEnergy, Environment Illinois, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Faith in Place, Illinois Environmental Council, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Sierra Club, Protestants for the Common Good, The Nature Conservancy and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

For more information about Illinois CAN and the Illinois Clean Cars Act, visit
www.illinoisclimateactionnetwork.org.

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