The Illinois Clean Cars Act
The Joliet Diocese Legislative Advocacy Network is joining with the Environmental Law & Policy Center to support H.B. 3424: The Illinois Clean Cars Act.
Chicagoland's gas prices remain among the highest in the nation, but cleaner, gas-saving cars like hybrids are hard to find in Illinois showrooms. Why? Because automakers only ship clean cars where they absolutelly have to - and that's not Illinois.
What's the solution? Passing House Bill 3424, the Illinois Clean Cars Act.
The Illinois Clean Cars Act would save us over $1 billion annually at the gas pump and cut our dependence on foreign oil by requiring cleaner, more fuel-efficient versions of the cars we drive today. With this law Illinois residents will save on average $2,500 in fuel costs over the life of their car.
Economic Benefits:
- At $3/gallon, Illinois drivers will save about $3 billion by 2020 and $6 billion by 2030.
- The money saved will be spent in other sectors of Illinois' economy (studies show 68% of the savings would be spent in the state) and generate new jobs.
- Annual gas consumption in Illinois will drop by 1 billion gallons in 2020 and 2 billion gallons in 2030, reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Health Benefits:
- The negative impact of asthma will be reduced in Illinois, which has an 11% rate, one of he highest in the nation. (Hospitalization rates for asthma in Chicago are double the national average.)
- The Harvard School of Public Health estimates improved air quality from clean cars will:
- prevent 80,000-250,000 lost school days.
- Cut respiratory symptoms by 100,000 occurrences.
- Elimate 34,000-96,000 minor restricted activity days.
Sign the Petition for Clean Cars in Illinois at
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/pleasebringcleancars
Visit www.cleancarsillinois.org for more information.
Please forward this alert to your family and friends.
* Information for this alert comes from the Environmental Law & Policy Center
