Statement of Bob Perciasepe
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

August 16, 2016

On the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation finalizing new standards to reduce carbon emissions from tractor-trailers and other long-haul trucks:

The new standards announced today will ensure that America’s trucks keep pace with our cars in the race to cut fuel use and carbon emissions.

Transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with a fifth of that coming from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Trucks meeting the new standards will consume nearly 2 billion fewer barrels of oil, saving $170 billion in fuel costs and cutting carbon emissions by a billion tons.

As the U.S. power sector continues to rely less on fossil fuels, it’s critical that we make stronger progress on transportation emissions to help meet the goal the United States pledged in the Paris Agreement.

Tighter standards are already reducing emissions from new cars and SUVs. Today’s action for trucks and trailers ensures that the latest fuel-saving technology will help efficiently power the next generation of American trucks.

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To speak to a C2ES expert, contact Laura Rehrmann, press@c2es.org, 703-516-4146

About C2ES: The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advancing strong policy and action to address climate change. Learn more at www.c2es.org.