Durbin touts new fuel efficiency standards

Michaela Eby admits she cringes every time she has to fill her 2005 Acura MDX.

This morning was no different for the Lombard resident who spent more than $45 to fill her gas tank.

She knows it's her choice to drive the SUV but she likes it. It's her "style," so she tolerates it.

The next time she buys a car, Eby and other car owners should have more fuel efficient choices to meet their style, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said.

Durbin, speaking today outside a Oak Brook gas station, said the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards included in recently signed energy legislation will help the nation become cleaner, more fuel efficient and less oil dependent.

"About 65 percent of all the oil we import goes right out our tailpipes," said Durbin, who drives a Ford Escape Hybrid. "And what's been coming out of our tailpipes has not been kind to Mother Earth."

President George W. Bush signed legislation Wednesday that raises fuel efficiency standards for the first time since 1975 and focuses on developing more biofuels.

Carmakers now are required to lower fuel consumption in most cars and light trucks by 40 percent, raising the fuel efficiency standard to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

"That's an average," Durbin said, "so some cars will do much better and some won't quite get there."

Since 1975, the required average for automakers has been 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and just over 22 miles per gallon for light trucks. The new law, Durbin said, is expected to save 18 billion gallons of gasoline per year in 2020.

During the next 12 years, however, Durbin said he expects the auto industry to be challenged to provide more efficient vehicle choices to American consumers.

The law also calls for a increase in the use of ethanol, and other renewable fuels, from 7.5 billion gallons in 2012 to 36 billion gallons by 2020.

In addition, the law reduces energy consumption in federal buildings and aims to improve energy efficiency in light bulbs and appliances.

Meanwhile, Durbin has a tip for drivers on saving energy in their cars.

"If you have a cell phone and you charge it in your car, the charger burns energy the entire time it's plugged in," Durbin said. "If you're not charging your phone, unplug the charger."