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Sierra Club Conservation Policies Alternative Transportation Fuels Federal and state laws and regulations should be strengthened to limit pollutant emissions from internal-combustion engines to the absolutely practicable minimum, regardless of the fuel used. States should have the option of adopting more stringent controls than the federal requirements. Motor vehicles should be required, through manufacturers' guarantees and strict enforcement, to meet these emission limits for a certification lifetime of at least 100,000 miles. If existing technology cannot reduce the emissions of a pollutant to acceptable levels, then regulations should set limits that can force emission reductions through other means. The Sierra Club does not promote the general, nationwide use of any specific transportation fuel. Similarly, it does not endorse any legislation or regulatory action that, by mandated use, subsidy, or preferential relaxation of emission standards, is intended to favor the general, nationwide use of a specific fuel. However, for limited applications where alternative fuels can provide clearly demonstrable and significant environmental benefits, the Sierra Club encourages their implementation. The Sierra Club supports the development and tests of promising alternative transportation fuels and technologies so that national fuels policies can be based on demonstrated results. Adopted by the Board of Directors, November 11-12, 1989. Gasahol (Ethanol) Recognizing the importance of acting as stewards of our land, the Sierra Club recommends that any state or federal policy or program promoting the use of agricultural land to produce alcohol for fuel have safeguards to ensure that such programs or policies do not cause adverse environmental impacts on the land or adversely affect the price or supply of food products. Federal and state subsidies for gasahol from grains should be replaced by an energy conservation program of comparable magnitude. More gasoline can be saved by investments to reverse the decline in the quantity and quality of urban mass transit and intercity railroads, and to improve auto efficiency. More support for the readily available, economic means to conserve energy in oil-heated homes will allow more gasoline to be produced from a given amount of crude oil. These approaches are preferable to gasohol in terms of the petroleum saved per dollar spent, the capital investment required, the jobs created, and the effects on soil, air, and water resources. Adopted by the Board of Directors, January 30-31, 1982 Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use