Walking the Walk: Feds to Purchase Fuel-Efficient Cars from U. S. Companies
‘Bulo hates to link to the charlatans at CNBC, but that’s where he found this story.
Granted, it’s a small drop in the bucket, and granted, in some ways, it’s a symbolic gesture, but still this policy provides legitimate assistance to the auto companies, reduces gasoline consumption, and sets an example for people to buy fuel-efficient cars:
President Barack Obama, saying he was committed to a strong U.S. auto industry, announced on Thursday that the government would purchase 17,600 new fuel-efficient vehicles from American automakers by June 1.
Obama said the vehicles, part of the U.S. government fleet, would be purchased from General Motors , privately held Chrysler, and Ford , all of which had an existing contract with the federal government’s General Services Administration.
The president said the GSA would spend about $285 million in funds from the $787 billion dollar Recovery Act approved by Congress earlier this year to buy the 17,600 commercially available fuel-efficient vehicles.
“As a part of our commitment to the American auto industry, I charged my administration with using Recovery Act funds to purchase a new fleet of fuel-efficient government vehicles to increase demand for our American auto companies and stimulate the economy,” Obama said in a statement announcing the decision.
The announcement on Thursday includes the purchase of 2,500 hybrid sedans that will be ordered by April 15, the largest one-time purchase of hybrid vehicles for the government fleet in history, the White House said.
Swapping older federal cars for hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles will reduce gasoline consumption by 1.3 million gallons per year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 26 million pounds, the White House said.
Well, the Beast Who Slumbers despises the phrase ‘a win-win situation’. So, ‘bulo would like to know from his loyal reader(s): Is there any way that this is not a win-win situation? Muchas gracias in advance.
Good move. Just think of where green energy would be now if all the money we burned up in Iraq was put into making the US energy independent….
*sigh*
Hmmm….
Perhaps if we’re overpaying for the vehicles? Although I would really like to see purchases of fuel efficient (real fuel efficiency, better than 35 mpg) vehicles with a subsidy or rebate or something. If the government can encourage purchases of new houses with low interest rates, why can’t they do it for cars as well?
There used to be a tax deal for people who bought certain fuel efficient cars. My neighbors who bought a Prius took some credit or another for maybe three years. No idea if that credit is still available, though.
The tax credit for the Prius expired because so many have sold, whereas the junkier hybrids (such as the Escape by Ford) still get that credit. Nice way to reward innovation eh? I agree we should bring back a credit for cars at better than 35 mpg. Many of the so called hybrids are at less than 30 mpg which is a farce and should not be encouraged.