Driving America’s Future supports a national, economy-wide, long-term solution to permanently reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The alternative, a state-by-state regulatory approach, would only add compliance costs and upset the political balance achieved by national legislation. The impact of greenhouse gas emissions is not just a national problem, it is a global challenge. It simply does not make sense to address it with a state-by-state approach.

We are making progress and Congress recently passed a tough new national fuel economy standard. It passed and was signed into law with bipartisan support and well as the support of automakers, labor, and the environmental community. This law serves as an example of the progress that can be made when lawmakers and industry work together. Industry involvement is critical to developing a realistic approach that will deliver actual results in reducing carbon emissions, not just promises of results.

Policies that demand manufacturer’s conform up to 50 different sets of regulations only increase manufacturing costs which are passed on to consumers, affecting economic growth and job creation. Our nation’s energy policy should be centered around a common goal expecting all parties to rise to meet the challenge. Placing the burden on one industry or sector is an unfair and ineffective approach.

A national policy will reduce ambiguity and require regulatory agencies to work together in a consistent, coordinated manner that go a long way in cutting down on unintended economic consequences and legal challenges that can hinder implementation. We need a holistic approach to developing a long-term strategy to reducing harmful emissions while meeting growing energy needs.