We’re Using Less Gas

by Stuart Shapiro

The chart above which shows fuel used and vehicle emissions since 2007 shows encouraging downward trends.  It comes from Kevin Drum who adds:

Carbon emissions from US vehicles are down considerably over the past few years. This is due to a combination of less driving and more efficient vehicles. The chart below, from the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, tells the story. And things will get even better over the next decade, as the Obama administration’s program to increase average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg kicks in.

It’s not enough, but it’s something.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.