Fed up with the U.S. reliance on foreign oil, a Baltimore environmental nonprofit is calling on federal lawmakers to support a bill that would decrease the amount of gas used per mile by U.S. cars.
Eight members of Environment Maryland passed out hundreds of fliers Wednesday at four gas stations at the intersection of Cold Spring Lane and Falls Road in Northern Baltimore, urging drivers to contact Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-7th, and Dutch Ruppersberger, D-2nd, asking for tougher gas mileage standards.
“We already have the technology to make our cars and [sport utility vehicles] get 40 miles per gallon,” said Brad Heavner, the organization?s director.
“We need our government to require cars to be more fuel-efficient.”
Group members said the House of Representatives should require automakers to build cars that can drive on 33 miles per gallon of gasoline.
Increased fuel economy of cars and SUVs would reduce America?s demand by 500,000 barrels of oil per day and save the U.S. public $19 billion a year by 2015, while also reducing pollution, group members said.
“Anyone who cares about the environment and global warming should support higher gas mileage,” said Jennifer Dangel, staff attorney for Environment Maryland.
Neither Cummings nor Ruppersberger could be reached for comment.
