Letter to Editor: Clean Cars and Air by Garlinda of Nashville, TN

Garlinda of Nashville, TN writes:

With the American Legislative Exchange Council and their toxic legislation in town this week, there is no better time to examine the environmental crisis facing our country and planet. (https://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-group-protests-alec-conference). By starting the process of rolling back the clean air act, and now opening up the fuel efficiency standards for repeal, the Trump administration has put our children’s future in peril. This is particularly alarming given the recent events such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the on-going wildfires in California which were all exacerbated by climate change. With 2016 being the newest warmest year on record, it is essential that politicians in Washington start addressing climate change as the dire public health emergency that it is.

The fuel efficiency standards were passed with broad bipartisan support back in 2012. Both auto industry experts and environmental activists saw them as a move in the right direction that would save American’s money at the pump, while also making our air cleaner and easier to breathe. These standards are estimated by 2025 to double fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon and cut greenhouse gas emissions in half, save 6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution and 12 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of model year 2012-2025 vehicles, while also offering consumers significant savings at the pump. (https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100OXEO.PDF?Dockey=P100OXEO.PDF) Both Senators Corker and Alexander voted in favor of the standards back in 2012, and we should make sure they stand by their votes again now.

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We’re stronger together.

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