Fueling a Better Future

The 'Half the Oil' plan proposes reducing U.S. oil use by 50% over 20 years, projecting annual oil spending cuts of $550 billion, the creation of over 1 million jobs, and the elimination of 2 billion metric tons of global warming emissions per year by 2035. The strategy focuses on improving fuel efficiency for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, expanding the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and implementing 'smart growth' urban planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

• Implementing the 'Half the Oil' plan is projected to result in significant national benefits by 2035, including a $550 billion reduction in annual oil spending, the creation of more than 1 million jobs, and the elimination of approximately 2 billion metric tons of global warming emissions annually.
• Fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles provide substantial consumer savings; for example, 2012–2025 standards could save the average driver of a new 2025 vehicle about $8,000 over the vehicle's lifetime compared to a 2011 model, with total consumer net savings reaching $140 billion in 2030 alone.
• Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for only 4% of vehicles on the road but consume roughly 20% of all annual transportation fuel. First-ever fuel efficiency standards for these vehicles are estimated to reduce oil usage by at least 530 million barrels and save owners $42 billion.
• Electric vehicles (EVs) can significantly lower oil dependence and costs; a midsize battery EV could save an owner nearly $13,000 in fuel costs over its lifetime compared to a compact gasoline vehicle. By 2035, EVs and hydrogen vehicles could represent 30 to 40 percent of new vehicle sales.
• Adopting 'smart growth' urban planning—which emphasizes dense mixed-use development and pedestrian access—could reduce oil use by nearly 1.5 million barrels per day by 2035. An example in Arlington, VA, saw traffic on Wilson Boulevard drop nearly 16% from 1996 to 2006 despite population growth.
• Reducing oil use improves public health by decreasing diesel exhaust, which is linked to cancer and respiratory illnesses. Projects like the Hunts Point Truck/Trailer Electrification Project in New York City aim to eliminate nearly 900 tons of pollutants annually by reducing truck idling.
• The transition to a low-oil economy creates diverse employment opportunities. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, cellulosic biofuels produced from nonfood crops and waste can drive economic growth, as seen with the Indian River County BioEnergy Center in Florida, which created over 380 jobs during construction.
• Cellulosic biofuels are a key component for emission reductions, capable of reducing global warming emissions by up to 90% compared to gasoline on a life-cycle basis, potentially cutting CO2 emissions by 164 million metric tons by 2035.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2013). Fueling a Better Future. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Fueling-a-Better-Future-The-Many-Benefits-of-Half-the-Oil.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Fueling a Better Future. 2013. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Fueling-a-Better-Future-The-Many-Benefits-of-Half-the-Oil.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Fueling a Better Future |date=June 2013 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Fueling-a-Better-Future-The-Many-Benefits-of-Half-the-Oil.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2013fueling, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Fueling a Better Future}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Fueling-a-Better-Future-The-Many-Benefits-of-Half-the-Oil.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }