Utica Progressive

For the first time since 1975 fuel economy is going to rise.  The new Energy Bill “requires automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of cars, small trucks and SUVs by 40 percent, to an average 35 miles per gallon by 2020.”  Car, light trucks, and SUV’s must currently meet a standard of 27.5 miles per gallon.  This rise in fuel economy will certainly have a huge impact on CO2 emissions, gas consumption, and oil prices.  

While it is good to see that our cars are getting greener, I find it amazing that we have been gliding along based on standards set more than 30 years ago.  As usual, it has taken a tremendous rise in gas prices and an environmental awakening to cause this change.  Both automakers and consumers must share the responsibility for our failure to become more efficient.  Manufacturers have done little to make cars run cleaner and have offered few desirable models that save fuel.  Consumers have been unwilling to give up power and performance for the sake of efficiency.

The technology to make cars run further on a gallon of gas is there, just ask the Europeans.  We may have to, God forbid, drive smaller cars with less powerful engines.  We certainly will have to sacrifice size, speed, and comfort; sacrifices that Americans are not used to making.

Our country is facing an energy crisis and we are being called to account for our lack of vision and willful ignorance of the problems we face.  We desperately need national leadership that will point us in a new direction, create a meaningful plan, and tap our creative resources to find new solutions.