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8th November 2007

The leading Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton has this week proposed steeper corporate average fuel consumption reductions than those recently debated in Congress, and so far the most ambitious CO2 reduction plans among her rival candidates.

Recognizing that transport accounts for 70% of U.S. oil consumption, Senator Clinton would increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 mpg by 2030, but would help manufacturers re-tool their production facilities through $20 billion in “Green Vehicle Bonds.”

On biofuels, she would: (A) require oil companies and other major gasoline retailers to have E85 pumps at half of their stations by 2012, and 100% by 2017; (B) require manufacturers to make all vehicles flex-fuel vehicles by 2015; (C) and invest in freight rail upgrades to bring biofuels more efficiently to market. She wouldl invest $2 billion in cellulosic ethanol research and provide loan guarantees to build the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol capacity.

Senator Clinton's plan would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 and cut oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels, more than 10 million barrels per day. She would establish a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, double investment in basic energy research, and legislate for energy conservation, e.g. through banning incandescent light bulbs.

A Clinton administration would set a greenhouse gas emissions target for advanced biofuels to ensure that they move over time towards a standard of emitting at least 80% less greenhouse gases than gasoline, and would develop biofuels guidelines to take into account impacts on land and water resources, water supplies, food prices and wildlife.

The three domestic light vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. have opposed a Senate-approved corporate average fuel economy target for 2020, slightly tougher than Senator Clinton’s at 35 mpg by 2020, and representing a 40% increase over the current standards for cars and light trucks. Under Senator Clinton's plan, the target would be 40 mpg in 2020.

(www.hillaryclinton.com)

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