Automotive

Calls on Senate Committee to Examine the Cause of Refinery Shutdowns and Whether any Price Gouging is Taking Place when the Committee Holds a Hearing on Gas Prices on Tuesday; Says Oil Companies Should Fix their Damaged Refineries without Passing Cost on to Consumers; Underscores Need for Federal Government to Ensure Refineries are Maintained and Inspected

May 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the cause of refinery shutdowns and whether any price gouging is taking place when the Commit    » read more »

May 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC—Senate Democrats today discussed their commitment to punishing price-gougers at the gas pumps and other energy issues facing the country at a press conference today. Senators Maria Cantwell, Dick Durbin, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar expressed their support for two measures, one that will punish price-gougers and another that increases our supply of biofuels.    » read more »

Statement of Joan Claybrook, President, Public Citizen*

May 8, 2007 -- "We are dismayed that the fuel economy bill approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today doesn’t require any real or significant improvement in fuel economy. Currently, the truck fleet achieves an average fuel economy of 21.8 mpg, and the car fleet reaches 30 mpg. Today’s bill sets a target of merely 35 mpg thirteen years hence, which is 5 mpg less than the Senate was poised to require within ten years ago, in 1990.    » read more »

May 8, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., made the following statement regarding the CAFE bill reported by the Senate Commerce Committee today:

“While the bill reported by the Commerce Committee has a few minor improvements over what was put before the committee this morning, there is a very long way to go and a lot more changes are needed before it is a positive result for the environment and for manufacturing in America.”

Source: Senator Carl Levin

Senate Panel Approves Measure Sponsored by Senators Feinstein and Snowe to Raise Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks by 10 Miles per Gallon over 10 Years; Committee-approved consensus legislation would raise nationwide fuel economy from 25 to 35 miles per gallon by 2020; with adjustments based on a class-by-class basis

May 8, 2007 -- Washington, DC – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today approved a consensus measure to raise fuel economy standards for all passenger cars and light trucks by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years.    » read more »

May 8, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – A bill sponsored by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of Senators that would increase fuel economy standards provided the basis for legislation that passed the Senate Commerce Committee today. CAFE standards have not been increased for over twenty years.    » read more »

May 8, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today passed a fuel efficiency bill that includes a provision by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to ensure that new cars purchased by the federal government are the most fuel efficient.    » read more »

U.S. Department of Energy Releases Energy Price Forecast

May 08, 2007 -- Following the release of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-Energy Information Administration’s short-term energy price forecast today, Governor Doyle made the following statement:

“If these predictions from the federal government hold true, big oil companies will be squeezing Wisconsin families this summer just as they have for years.    » read more »

May 7, 2007 -- CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB) and Illinois State Police have launched a statewide campaign to urge motorists and bicyclists to share the road to reduce crashes, prevent injuries and end fatalities on our streets.    » read more »

May 7, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that she is calling on all 49 of her fellow Governors to co-sign a letter to the congressional leaders of both parties asking for federal hearings and an investigation into the rising price of gasoline.

“It is time we demanded answers on the gas price spikes that are hurting our consumers and our economies,” Governor Rell said. “This is a national issue and it is time we as governors ramp up the pressure on Congress to act. We can accomplish that by speaking in a unified voice.”    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., made the following statement regarding the draft CAFE proposal circulated by the Senate Commerce Committee today:    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC -- The Senate Commerce Committee today unveiled an amendment to legislation introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Daniel Inouye (D-HI) that would increase the fuel economy of passenger vehicles by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years.

This “10 in 10” legislation would reduce vehicular greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent below projected levels; save 2.1 million barrels of oil per day.

The following is Senator Feinstein’s statement.    » read more »

May 3, 2007 -- A RAND Corporation report issued today says Save the World Air Inc. would need to conduct further laboratory studies and in-use testing to determine the effectiveness of its Zero Emission Fuel Saver (ZEFS) technology that is intended to reduce tailpipe pollutants and increase fuel efficiency in gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.    » read more »

Announces $2 Million in First Round of Emergency Relief

May 4, 2007 -- EMERYVILLE – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters today announced an initial $2 million in federal emergency relief will be available to California to repair the damaged MacArthur Maze overpass. The Secretary joined Senator Boxer and Representatives Tauscher, Lee and Oberstar on a tour of the site to see the repairs that will be required.    » read more »

05/04/2007 -- Reminding motorists to buckle up for safety, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the award of traffic safety grants to enforce California’s seat belt laws. The grants, totaling $5.7 million to 270 police departments statewide, will be used during the upcoming “Click It or Ticket” mobilization, taking place May 14 - June 3.    » read more »