Analysis: Mich. Households To Save $240 Under Higher MPG Standards

DETROIT (WWJ) - A new analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that new fuel economy standards announced by the Obama administration to require automakers to achieve a fleet fuel economy average of 54.5 mpg will save Americans billions of dollars at the pump.

The study found that Americans will save about $44.3 billion at the gas pump. The study estimates Michiganders will save $976 million -- an average of $240 per household.

The new standards are fleet average requirements, which means that some vehicles would have higher fuel efficiency and some would be lower. The standards are pegged to specific laboratory tests instead of real-world driving conditions. In 2025, cars and trucks will average closer to 40 miles per gallon in actual driving, which is nearly double today's on-road average of 22 mpg.

The top 20 states for total net pocketbook savings in 2030:

1. Texas – $5.024 billion ($425 per household)
2. California – $4.954 billion ($314 per household)
3. Florida – $4.223 billion ($371 per household)
4. North Carolina – $1.768 billion ($372 per household)
5. Georgia – $1.607 billion ($364 per household)
6. Arizona – $1.536 billion ($387 per household)
7. New York – $1.485 billion ($205 per household)
8. Virginia – $1.366 billion ($365 per household)
9. Illinois – $1.190 billion ($240 per household)
10. Tennessee – $1.148 billion ($396 per household)
11. Washington – $1.060 billion ($319 per household)
12. Ohio – $1.058 billion ($234 per household)
13. Pennsylvania – $991 million ($200 per household)
14. Michigan – $976 million ($240 per household)
15. Maryland – $960 million ($365 per household)
16. Massachusetts – $881 million ($327 per household)
17. Colorado – $825 million ($370 per household)
18. Missouri – $793 million ($314 per household)
19. Minnesota – $767 million ($316 per household)
20. Louisiana – $739 million ($415 per household)

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