SAFE Applauds WH Plan for Truck Efficiency

Helped Assemble Coalition That Proposed Medium- And Heavy-Duty Fuel Standards

WASHINGTON, May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) today praised the White House for advancing a plan to put into place the first-ever fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. SAFE worked together with The Accord Group throughout the year to help create and support the Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Leadership Group, a diverse coalition of medium- and heavy-duty fleets and technology providers who were committed to informing and supporting a workable national program to reduce GHG emissions and improve the fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100215/SAFELOGO)

"Fuel efficiency is not just about the cars we drive to work every day," SAFE President and CEO Robbie Diamond said. "Medium- and heavy-duty trucks are responsible for nearly 20 percent of the fuel demand of our transportation fleet. These vehicles were never before subject to fuel efficiency standards until the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. We are pleased that the White House has a plan to put new standards for trucks into action."

In 2006, SAFE's Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC)—a group of business executives and retired military leaders led by General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President and CEO of FedEx Corporation—released their Recommendations to the Nation on Reducing U.S. Oil Dependence, helping shape the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which included the nation's first-ever fuel-economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. In September 2008, the ESLC released A National Strategy for Energy Security, a comprehensive plan to improve the nation's energy security that recommended "an aggressive and expeditious rule-making process with regard to medium- and heavy-duty trucks."

In 2010, SAFE joined with The Accord Group to help bring together the Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Leadership Group.  Participating companies include:

• Con-way Inc.
• Cummins Inc.
• Eaton Corporation
• FedEx Corporation
• Wabash National Corporation
• Waste Management, Inc.

The Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Leadership Group devised a set of principles for regulating the carbon emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks that it proposed to the Obama Administration in April 2010. 

Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America's dependence on oil and improve U.S. energy security to bolster national security and strengthen the economy.

SOURCE Securing America's Future Energy