Nissa Koerner, nissa.koerner@sierraclub.org, (202) 675-2392
Mike Stankiewicz, mstankiewicz@citizen.org, (202) 588-7779
WHAT: Press conference with dial-in option and display outside a federal hearing at which activists will call on Ford to support the clean car standards, also known as fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards.
As part of the White House’s planned rollback of the standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are holding a hearing in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday to hear public opinion.
Before the hearing, consumer and environmental groups will deliver a wake-up call to Ford – literally – that working with the Trump administration to roll back clean car standards is unacceptable. With an installation of several dozen vintage-style alarm clocks, the coalition will sound the alarm that it’s time for Ford to stand with American families and dump the Trump rollback. Last week Ford Motor Company, under significant pressure from a broad coalition of organizations and the public, appeared to reverse its stance on the Trump administration’s proposed rollback, but the company has yet to unequivocally condemn the new rule.
WHEN: Press conference with dial-in option begins at 9:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 25
Dial-in number: 800-875-3456; Verbal Passcode: FORD 25
Hearing begins at 10 a.m. EDT
WHERE: Dearborn Inn, Grosse Pointe Room
20301 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, Mich.
WHO: Madeline Page, clean cars campaign coordinator, Public Citizen
Mike Berkowitz, legislative and political director, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter
Dahn Brickner, Detroit native and longtime automotive industry professional
VISUALS: signs, banners and 300 alarm clocks
Background: In January 2017, the EPA concluded that America’s clean car standards are working and achievable. Last month, NHTSA and the EPA proposed freezing the standards at 2020 levels and revoking the California waiver, which allows that state and 12 others to protect their citizens from harmful tailpipe pollution.
Despite helping craft the standards, automakers have pushed to roll them back since Trump’s election. Ford and other automakers have attacked the standards at every turn – recently using their trade association to provide regulatory comments to NHTSA that cast doubt on climate science and the link between air pollution and adverse health impacts. Ford has claimed to be good on the climate even while executives have met with administration officials about weakening the standards.
If the standards remain strong, consumers will continue to save billions at the pump, and more than 6 billion metric tons of dangerous climate pollution will be avoided.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.