The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) are now writing our first national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses. These standards are projected to achieve 7—20% reductions in emissions and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced in the first five years of the program.
Trucks account for only 4% of all the vehicles on our nation's roads, but they use 20% of our fuel. The technology already exists to make them more efficient and cleaner. The EPA standards are needed to get the technology into use.
The EPA reports that operators of the most frequently driven trucks would see a payback on their investment within one to two years. Overall, the EPA estimates that this program will provide $41 billion in net benefits over the lifetime of model year 2014 to 2018 trucks and buses. These savings can be invested in new jobs at home rather than increasing our dependence on foreign oil and sending jobs overseas.
From packages shipped to friends and family, to the abundance of goods that crisscross our country daily, we need a truck fleet and buses that minimize pollution and oil use. Everyone will benefit: we’ll get cleaner air, be less dependent on oil, and help combat climate chaos.
The EPA has asked for public comments on their proposed standards. They have assured us that comments received after January 31 (the published end-date for the comment period) will still be received and recorded. It is important that those who support these first-ever emission standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses submit their comments as soon as possible.
Send a message to the EPA supporting their proposed national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses. Include a reason why this is important to you. In your letter or email, specify the following docket number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0162.
Contact info:
Write:
EPA, A&R Docket and Info Center
(6102T)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460
Email:
A-and-R-Docket@epa.gov
(Put EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0162 in the subject line)
Photo: Untitled (Help) by Tim Barber.
Keep on blogging! its getting through the tough times that make you stronger and then the good times will follow, keep writing about your experiences and we should all pull together.
Posted by: Air Emission Monitoring | 08/15/2011 at 01:59 PM