As a recent college graduate trying to balance my rent and utilities bills while making my college loan payments, it is difficult to add the extra stress of constantly increasing gas prices (“Gas prices rise across PA” January 2, 2012). That is why I am excited by the possibility to save billions of dollars at the gas pump every year while cutting our addiction to oil and global warming pollution.
The Obama administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation have done just that by proposing new pollution and fuel efficiency standards that would rise the miles per gallon to 54.5 by the year 2025. These standards will be the largest step the U.S. has ever taken to get off oil and will save money each year for Pennsylvania families. I am encouraging my family and friends, as well as all Pennsylvanians, to make their voices heard in support of strong clean car standards and submit a public comment to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov (include “Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0799” in the subject line). Let’s start off the New Year right by supporting these standards, so we can put a little more pork and sauerkraut on the dinner table in New Years to come instead of dishing out more money at the gas pump.
Ali Blumenstock
State College
