Why the Trump Administration should support successful clean car standards

WASHINGTON (March 15, 2017) – Trump administration today announced it will re-open a review of common-sense automobile pollution standards for model years 2022-2025, which are instrumental to the rejuvenation of America’s automotive manufacturing sector and could drive down fuel costs for consumers.

Bob Keefe, executive director of the national, nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) has said:

“You have to wonder what is motivating the Trump administration to drive such a successful, Made-in-America policy into a ditch. It’s simply reckless and irresponsible, and will once again put America in the rearview mirror of foreign automakers that will be glad to dominate the market for the next generation of more efficient vehicles.”

E2 was founded by business people who helped advocate for the country’s first greenhouse gas emissions limits for vehicles, which were passed by the state of California in 2002 and became the foundation for the federal emissions standards. California’s groundbreaking legislation helped spur innovation in the auto and fuels industries – creating thousands of jobs – and ultimately helped advance widespread adoption of hybrid, electric and alternative fuels vehicles.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 259,000 Americans now work in clean vehicle production. Those jobs, along with hundreds of millions of dollars saved through fuel efficiency by businesses and consumers alike, are now at risk because of the Trump administration’s shortsighted actions, says Keefe. These same standards are helping spur production of the modern-day auto industry’s most efficient vehicles  while saving consumers and businesses money. This clean car industry is also creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and reducing pollution along the way.

More background on E2

  • This E2 fact sheet on clean vehicle jobs in America is based on U.S. Department of Energy research. Among the 259,000 Americans who work in the clean vehicles sector, 112,000 work in hybrid EVs; 44,000 in plug-in hybrids; 44,000 in natural gas vehicles; 42,000 in EVs; and 17,000 in hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles.
  • Social media graphics highlighting clean vehicle jobs data are here, here, and here.
  • More than 250 business leaders who support fuel efficiency standards signed this September 2016 E2 letter.
  • March 2016 “Clean Jobs America” report (Page 9) has details on how fuel efficiency standards help create jobs.

About Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.

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