High Gas Prices Spark Debate In Washington

As gas prices soared this past summer, pressure built on Congress to take long-deferred action to require new cars to get better gas mileage.

Due to the power of the automakers’ lobby, Congress has not raised the fuel economy standard in more than 10 years. But that could change. Reps. Ed Markey (Mass.) and Sherwood Boehlert (N.Y.) are building support for action to increase the gas mileage standard to at least 33 miles per gallon.

Home heating and cooling prices are also on the minds of lawmakers after another summer of record-setting temperatures. So far, state governments have led the way on energy-saving: 11 states have set efficiency standards for appliances that will results in billions of dollars in savings for consumers. Another bill filed in Congress would cut oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels of oil a day, thanks to a combination of improved energy efficiency and greater reliance on clean, renewable sources.

“It’s not only lower utility bills we care about,” said Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski. “We need to use American innovation and technology to move beyond oil—for the health of our communities and our nation’s security.”