EPA

GM joins campaign to educate Californians about oil changes, helping reduce their environmental impact

SACRAMENTO, Calif., 2008-06-10 -- General Motors, the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) announced today that they are joining forces to encourage drivers to follow their vehicle manufacturer's recommendations on oil changes, which for millions of GM vehicles could be much longer than the decades-old standard of 3,000 miles between changes.

GM Oil Life System

DEARBORN, Mich., April 2, 2008 – Ford Motor Company's actions to reduce the amount of energy used to manufacture vehicles and support its U.S. operations have earned it the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's coveted 2008 ENERGY STAR Award. A three-time ENERGY STAR Award winner, the 2008 award for Sustained Excellence recognizes Ford's continued leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

Highlights:
* The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Ford Motor Company its 2008 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. This is Ford's third consecutive year winning an ENERGY STAR Award.
* Ford improved energy efficiency in the U.S. by 4.5 percent in 2007 and nearly 30 percent since 2000.

March 26, 2008, Atlanta, Ga. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 4, as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, today announced the availability of approximately $3.6 Million in grants to fund projects within the Southeast to demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions. EPA expects to fund between five and ten grants ranging from $250,000 and $750,000. However, EPA reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.

2/8/08 -- EPA is raising the 2008 renewable fuels standard (RFS), which determines how much non-petroleum fuel will power your vehicle, to 7.76 percent. The move is in response to the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which President Bush signed in December.

Last November, EPA announced a RFS of 4.66 percent, based on previous law, that mandated at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into the nation's transportation fuels this year. However, EPA is now increasing the standard to 7.76 percent to comply with the new minimum of 9.0 billion gallons of renewable fuel that EISA requires.

Vehicle achieves 60–70 percent better fuel economy, 40 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions

12/17/2007, LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today demonstrated its hydraulic hybrid UPS delivery vehicle at the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Diamond Bar, Calif. which, in laboratory tests, achieved a 60 – 70 percent improvement in fuel economy and 40 percent reduction in emissions over a conventional vehicle.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 2007 – Ford Motor Company today announced it has joined The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP).

SP is an innovative partnership between automobile original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SP addresses the goals of the membership by creating new and innovative business-centered approaches to environmental protection that improve the environment while providing value throughout the automobile supply chain. SP provides a forum for small, mid-sized and large automotive and vehicle suppliers to work together, learn from each other, and share environmental best practices.

11/27/07 -- Today, the EPA is setting a new renewable fuels standard (RFS) of 4.66 percent to meet the 2005 Energy Policy Act's mandate that at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into transportation gasoline in 2008. Based on the standard, each party determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its motor vehicle fuel.

The standard for 2007 was 4.02 percent, equating to roughly 4.7 billion gallons. The overall volume target increases every year, reaching 7.5 billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Policy Act requires EPA to annually determine the standard -- which applies to refiners, importers and non-oxygenate blenders of gasoline -- by Nov. 30 for the following year.

(Atlanta, Ga. – November 20, 2007) Today, as part of EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program, the Southeast Diesel Collaborative presented a grant for $110,000 to the Cumberland County School Board to reduce diesel school bus emissions. Ninety school buses will be retrofitted with emission control devices aimed at reducing particulate emissions in the atmosphere and the school bus interior.

Cumberland County is undertaking the retrofits as part of a strategy of emissions reductions aimed at providing a safe healthy environment at schools and in the community. The County is the fourth largest district in North Carolina and currently transports over 25,000 students a day.

Dave McCurdy Statement on California's EPA Waiver Lawsuit

November 08, 2007 -- Statement of Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers:

Alliance members share the concerns of our customers, the President, the Congress and the American public about fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions. It is the view of the Alliance that enhancing energy security and improving fuel economy are priorities to all Americans, but a patchwork quilt of regulations at the state level is not the answer. Automakers are currently supporting legislation in Congress that would increase fuel economy by as much as 40 percent in 2022.

Numbers reflect new fuel economy testing methods

Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 2007 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released the 2008 Fuel Economy Guide to help consumers make well-informed choices when purchasing new vehicles.

"Today's consumers expect the biggest bang for their buck. By fueling them with information on this year's fleet of vehicles, we are putting Americans in the driver's seat to save money at the pump and protect our environment," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "As we see in the wide range of fuel efficient leaders, 'going green' can fit the needs of any lifestyle."