Sen. Snowe introduces bill to improve SUV fuel economy

www.wmtw.com Friday,January31,2003,7:14 AM By NewsRadio WMTW 870/1470 AM and 106.7 FM

WASHINGTON -- Senator Snowe is renewing her fight to force car manufacturers to improve fuel economy on SUVs.

Sen. Snowe and Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill Thursday that would require SUVs and light-duty trucks to average 27.5 miles per gallon by 2011. It's a bill Snowe first introduced two years ago -- and she says we'd all be better off now if it'd passed the first time around.

"Consumers would have choices in the next model year for more fuel-efficient SUVs had we passed that legislation, not to mention the very volatile situation when it comes to our energy, with the strike in Venezuela, the situation in Iraq making an already volatile market more precarious," Snowe said.

SUVs and light trucks now make up almost half of the passenger vehicles on U.S. highways.