As President Obama Orders Tough Tailpipe Regulations, Consumer Group Offers 'A' to 'F' Solutions for Cleaner and Cheaper Transportation

Americans Want Green Solutions But Worry About Costs; Handbook Identifies Wasted Billions, Best Paths

WASHINGTON May 19 As President Obama announces new national tailpipe emission standards modeled on California's, Consumer Watchdog is releasing a report that outlines how to affordably make the transition. The nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group today sent to the White House and Congress its new "Road to Cleaner and Cheaper" handbook, which urges specific policies and grades vehicle and fuel choices on their cleaner/cheaper balance, from "A" for hybrid electric vehicles to "F" for fuel made from coal.

The vehicle/fuel grades in the handbook are:

A. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, particularly if also capable of using biofuels.

  B. Ethanol, particularly second-generation cellulosic ethanols.
  B. Biodiesel, particularly if produced from a source other than soybeans.

C. Compressed natural gas. (Though CNG grade improves if used only for limited-range trucking and public transit).

D. Hydrogen. Conventional production methods energy-wasting, cost and fueling issues unresolved.

F. Fuel from coal. A polluting pork magnet for coal industry.

The handbook lists pros and cons for all of these choices, including cost and speed of development.

Congress and the White House must also get oil and fuel markets under control and ease the transition to greener private transportation, said Consumer Watchdog.

"The United States is far more dependent than other developed nations on cars and roads, something that cannot be swiftly undone," says the handbook, written by Consumer Watchdog research director Judy Dugan. "But it can become cleaner in affordable ways. That is the point of this plain-language handbook."

The "Road" handbook also urges tougher oversight and greater transparency in energy trading markets and the fuel refining industry, to quell speculation and gaming of markets that result in a price roller-coaster. It suggests ways to encourage clean, renewable fuels and protect them from start-and-stop investment.

"If government visibly gets oil markets and oil companies under regulatory control, if transition costs are fairly and transparently shared, and if the environmental benefits are clear, consumers will embrace the goal of a cleaner transportation system that ultimately will be cheaper than staying on the petroleum roller-coaster," says the introduction to the handbook.

"Our grading system will be controversial but is well-defended," said Dugan. "We defy anyone to show that the current practice of using taxpayer subsidies to produce motor fuels from coal is decent public policy, or even that automakers can produce an affordable, durable car that runs on cleanly produced hydrogen."

The handbook lists pros and cons for all of these choices, including cost and speed of development.

The handbook urges that clean-vehicle purchase incentives, market regulations and tax credits from cap and trade proceeds be utilized to keep consumers on board for steady reductions in fossil fuel use.

"Congress and the White House are aiming to complete cap and trade legislation by the end of the year," said Dugan. "These big initiatives have to consider effects on consumers or risk being seen as giveaways to industry while families pay the price. Congress can start by mustering the will to eliminate oil drilling subsidies and redirect the funds to green transportation."

Showing a visible will to stand up to industry lobbying will give Americans who have no lobby of their own more trust in all that follows, said Consumer Watchdog.