Getting Washington Off Oil
The environmental costs of our oil dependence are out of control, from accidents and spills to smog and to climate change. It's time to set Washington, and the country, on a path to getting off oil for good.
The cost of our oil addiction
American families are paying more than ever for our addiction to oil. With rising global demand and instability in the Middle East pushing prices ever higher, oil dependence takes an enormous bite out of our paychecks and our economy. But the prices that we pay with our wallets are only a fraction of the true costs of our addiction to oil.
We pay for it with our lungs, every time we breathe in toxic chemicals released from burning oil.
We also pay for our oil with our beaches, coasts and oceans. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster dumped 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and contaminated thousands of miles of coastline. And in 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline spilled 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River, which runs through the National Park.
No more subsidies for Big Oil
Despite the havoc they wreak on our environment — and the record profits they’re earning at our expense — Congress continues to give billions of our tax dollars to Big Oil. In the first half of 2011, the top five oil companies made astounding profits of over $67 billion, but oil and gas companies continue to receive $15.6 billion each year in federal tax breaks.
This fall, Environment Washington staff traveled throughout the state speaking at press events and drawing attention to the problems associated with oil subsidies. From Seattle to Yakima, we urged Sen. Murray to end oil subsidies and called on Rep. Doc Hastings (Yakima) to stop standing with Big Oil and start standing up instead for our health, our environment, and our economy.
Federal fuel-efficiency standards to double
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Yellowstone spill, our staff and allies got straight to work on the federal level, mobilizing 10,000 people to voice their support for cleaner cars that use less oil.
The Obama administration responded by announcing two big steps toward getting America off oil:
- New fuel economy standards will make 54.5-mpg cars the norm by 2025. This is the single biggest step ever taken to reduce oil consumption and global warming pollution.
- The first-ever standard for trucks will save more than 20 billion gallons of gasoline by 2018.
In the weeks and months ahead, Environment Washington will continue its work to push these new standards past the finish line.
What you can do: 10 tips to get off oil
Ending oil subsidies and enacting strong fuel efficiency standards are two crucial steps we must take to reduce our oil dependence and cut global warming pollution. However, small changes can also add up to a big difference.
Click here for our Top 10 Tips to use less oil and shrink your carbon footprint.
Urge Sen. Murray to end taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil.
Key Facts
- Our federal global warming program director, Nathan Willcox, thanked President Obama for announcing a plan to double fuel efficiency standards nationwide to an average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. Washington helped pave the way with our pioneering clean car standards.
- In the first half of 2011, the top five oil companies made profits of over $67 billion.
- These oil companies receive $15.6 billion in federal subsidies and tax breaks every year.
- The new mileage standard announced by President Obama will cut annual emissions of global warming pollution by as much as 280 million metric tons by 2030.