This week provided 4 important reminders of why we need standards that require the auto industry to build cleaner, more fuel efficient cars and trucks and the benefits these standards will bring for our health, economy and environment. Read More
A Cooler Smarter Government Of The People, By The People, and For The People
May 8th, 2012
You know, I get it. People have been understandably frustrated about high gas prices, the slow pace of the economic recovery, and gridlock in Washington. Approval of Congress is in the cellar and there are doubts about the ability of our government to put us on the right track. But our government can still work, even when it comes to climate change. We’ve got to put in effort to get there, but we can deliver. Don’t believe me? Well, let me give you an example from our new book, Cooler Smarter. Read More
Congressional Budget Office Embraces Fiction in Latest Analysis
May 7th, 2012
Following the old adage, “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story,” the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report last week blaming an upcoming set of vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards for an anticipated gaping deficit in the Highway Trust Fund. Salacious as it may sound, CBO’s analysis rings far closer to fiction than reality. Read More
Mile by Mile, Electric Vehicles Show Us the Money
April 26th, 2012
Tired of pump price volatility? You might want to check out an electric car. Read More
Take A Bite (of Meat) Out of Global Warming
April 26th, 2012
What’s the biggest dietary change you can make to reduce global warming emissions? Eat less meat, especially beef. “But I love steak, chicken, and pork,” you say. “There must be another way to fight global warming!” Actually, there is. According to UCS’ new book, Cooler Smarter: A Practical Guide to Low-Carbon Living, eating less meat is just one of the many choices you can make to reduce your personal global warming emissions. Read More
Sipping Sells at the New York Auto Show
April 4th, 2012
Judging from the early unveilings, the companies got the memo: Fuel economy sells. The mood is upbeat here on the Javits Center floor, with talk of a returning economy, industry profits, and the fact that the auto industry is poised to see its best sales month since 2008. And make no mistake, fuel-efficient products are playing a critical role. Read More
Oil Industry Subsidies Are Anything But Rosy
March 29th, 2012
I had the pleasure of being at the White House Rose Garden this morning, when President Obama called upon Congress to eliminate oil and gas subsidies that are financially buoying an industry already soaring on record profits. This is a good idea, and a long overdue one. Read More
Bringing Up the Average, On the Showroom Floor
March 29th, 2012
Baseball season is upon us. This is an optimistic time for most fans, and particularly so for longtime Chicago Cubs fans like me who, it seems, all too often have less to cheer about as the season rolls on.
If you are a fan, or you recently watched Moneyball, you probably know that baseball is a game of statistics — ERA (earned run average), slugging percentage, batting average, etc. So, it was in this tradition that I spent an afternoon this past weekend, with a Cubs spring training game on in the background, digging into data to help me understand which car and truck classes offer consumers real choices for fuel-efficient vehicles, and which don’t. Read More
Protect Yourself from High Gas Prices
March 23rd, 2012
As I drove my son to daycare this morning, I saw that my local gas station sign read $3.90 per gallon for regular gasoline. That’s right about the national average, though many are already dealing with more than $4 per gallon. This is the new reality for the 240 million Americans who rely on cars and light trucks to go about their daily lives. Read More
Why Do You Love your Hybrid or Electric Car?
February 22nd, 2012
Love it or hate it, the car culture is a big part of the American identity. People just love talking about their cars, and I get to hear a lot of inspiring car stories because of what I do. Read More
