Arizona opinion: Congress wants you to burn more gas

While families in Arizona struggle with rising costs at the pump and extreme heat linked to fossil fuel pollution, politicians in DC are quietly pushing policies that would make things worse.

A provision buried deep in the U.S. Senate budget bill would block enforcement of long-standing fuel economy rules that save Arizonans money and reduce oil dependence. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Transportation is moving to ignore electric vehicles (EVs) when calculating fuel efficiency — despite the fact that EVs are far more energy-efficient than gas-powered cars.

Add to that a congressional push to eliminate clean transportation incentives, like the EV tax credit and support for domestic battery manufacturing, and it’s clear: Washington wants to roll back the clock. Back to the 1970s, when gas guzzlers were the norm and oil embargoes rocked American wallets. Imagine if your vehicle today only got 12 miles per gallon. You’d be spending at least $1,000 more every year on gas.

Thanks to fuel efficiency standards established in 1975, cars and trucks today use about half as much gas as they did back then. Imagine if your vehicle today only got 12 miles per gallon. You’d be spending at least $1,000 more every year on gas. Families in Arizona and across the state have saved thousands of dollars on fuel — while enjoying safer, better-built vehicles.

Arizona stands to gain even more by embracing EVs. With plenty of sunshine, a growing EV charging network, and major investments in battery manufacturing happening here in-state, we are uniquely positioned to lead the clean transportation revolution. The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project estimates that Arizonans can save $931 in annual fuel costs by driving an electric pickup compared to a gas-powered model — the equivalent of fueling up for $1.20 per gallon at the pump. When considering that EV maintenance is also less expensive, the total ownership costs up is 26% lower compared to a gas pickup.

But instead of accelerating this shift, Congress is pushing policies that would keep us stuck paying more at the pump while letting other countries dominate the future of automotive manufacturing.

Now the Department of Transportation is claiming that fuel efficiency rules should not take into account the fact that electric vehicles can deliver more bang for the buck. Imagine the agency saying back in 1975 — “We want you to make more efficient vehicles, but only if you stick with manual transmission. And don’t mess with the aerodynamics — we like our cars looking boxy and square. Oh, and fuel injection doesn’t count. No electronics either — keep it mechanical.”

This is about consumer freedom and energy independence. It’s about making sure Arizonans keep more of their hard-earned money. Congress should strengthen, not sabotage, fuel efficiency standards — and embrace technologies that make vehicles cleaner and more affordable for everyone.