Clean Cars

The cost of our oil addiction

Connecticut families pay more than ever for our addiction to oil. With rising global demand and dwindling supplies pushing oil prices ever higher, oil dependence takes an enormous bite out of our paychecks and our economy. But the prices that we pay at the pump 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 air pollution released by cars and trucks.

We also pay for it with harm to our nation’ beaches and fragile wild places. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster spilled 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and contaminated thousands of miles of coastline. In early 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline accident dumped 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River in Montana.

It doesn't have to be this way. And in 2011, Environment Connecticut and our allies made encouraging progress towards our goal of breaking America’s oil addiction.

At 54.5 mpg, a big move to get America off oil

Last summer, our staff and allies redoubled our efforts, mobilizing 10,000 people to voice their support for cleaner cars that use less oil.

The Obama administration responded with fuel efficiancy standards for cars and light trucks, finalized in August. The standards represent the largest single step the U.S. has ever taken to tackle global warming.

The standards will cut carbon pollution from vehicles in the United States by 270 million metric tons—the equivalent of the annual pollution of 40 million of today’s vehicles—and save 1.5 million barrels of oil every day.

What you can do: Ten Tips to Get Off Oil

Strong fuel efficiency standards could be the most important policy ever enacted to reduce our oil dependence and global warming pollution. However, small changes can also add up to a big difference.

Check out our Top 10 tips to start cutting your oil use today.