We Must Move Forward with Clean Cars and Stop Trump’s Roadblocks

Long Branch, NJ- The New Jersey Sierra Club is joining Congressman Frank Pallone, State Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblywoman Joann Downey, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Mayor John Pallone to speak out on the importance of clean cars. These elected officials, along with other community leaders and environmental groups, are joining together to oppose proposed changes to the federal standards. These changes are an attack on state’s authority under the Clean Air Act to protect citizens from tailpipe pollution. The clean car standards will limit carbon pollution by 6 billion tons, save consumers $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, and reduce oil consumption by up to 4 million barrels every day.

“We’re here today to stand up for clean cars, the environment, and our economy. We must grab the technology of future, creating new jobs and more importantly protect public health. We’re telling the EPA to keep their hands off clean cars and not to repeal this important waiver. There are currently more than 20 fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles available at US dealerships. GM is discussing new models and some states want to phase out gasoline-cars altogether. Embracing clean cars is embracing our future. One of New Jersey’s biggest source of air pollution is from cars and trucks. Our region is particularly at risk from air pollution from the transportation sector and surrounding states exacerbate these problems. This new technology will create new, green jobs,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We’ll have to stand up to the EPA and Trump Administration to stop any rollbacks on clean car technology. We’re telling them not to side with Big Oil against the environment and our future!”

California’s stricter emissions that New Jersey follows forces automakers to build passenger cars that achieve an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, compared with about 36 miles per gallon today. Eventually achieving those targets would have drastically reduced the nation’s vehicle tailpipe pollution, which accounts for about a third of the United States’ total greenhouse gas emissions.

“In New Jersey, 45% of our air emissions comes from automobiles. This is why its critical to move forward with clean cars and EVs that reduce those emissions. Limiting carbon pollution by 6 billion tons saves consumers $1.7 trillion in fuel and makes our country energy-independent. Electric vehicles not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars, but can help stop future drilling, pipelines, and oil bomb trains. We need charging stations at every corner of the New Jersey because it will actually help reduce pollution. Each year, American passenger vehicles spew upwards of three trillion tons of carbon pollution into the air by burning about 121 billion gallons of gasoline. A fully electric vehicle uses electricity to power a battery. This means no gasoline, no dirty oil changes, and no internal combustion engine. There are currently more than 20 fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles available at US dealerships,” said Jeff Tittel.

In 2016, U.S. EV sales rose 37 percent over 2015, with well over half a million Americans now driving plug-in cars. According to the American Lung Association, every year, pollution from passenger vehicles collectively costs the 10 ZEV states about $24 billion in health, including 220,000 lost work days, 109,000 asthma exacerbations, hundreds of thousands of other respiratory health impacts, and 2,580 premature deaths. In New Jersey, the Zero Electric Vehicle (ZEV) program saves our state $4.6 billion in health care costs associated with smog and soot pollution caused by passenger vehicles.

“We’re speaking out against the fossil fool in the White House siding with automakers to move us backwards, which threatens our health and environment. Each year, American passenger vehicles spew upwards of three trillion tons of carbon pollution into the air by burning about 121 billion gallons of gasoline. Our air pollution levels are dangerous for smog and ozone and we must reduce as much pollution as we can from cars and trucks in the entire region. Instead of embracing the future of clean cars like plugins whose sales have tripled and are getting cheaper, Trump is preventing economic growth and green jobs,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “It was a tough battle to pass the California Car Bill here in New Jersey. We can’t let the Trump Administration undo all of the good we’ve done since then including the environmental and economic benefits. Our jobs and our lungs depend on it.”