Today jobs, the economy, and energy security are on the minds of every American. The Reno 

Sparks Chamber of Commerce, northern Nevada's largest business organization, is focused on 

proactive policies to address these critical issues and grow Nevada toward a more secure future. 

Transportation is a critical component of our economic vitality and given that your agencies are 

now developing national fuel economy standards for 20 17-2025, we wanted to share our views. 

Safe, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in our 

region. Jobs in northern Nevada are all tied to cost effective transportation. We are located at 

the nexus of two interstate highways and are right next door to the seventh largest economy in 

the world. 1'ransportation and logistics is and will continue to be a growing part of our economy. 

With the recent increase in gas prices and turmoil in the Middle East, reducing fuel use and 

dependence on foreign oil are on all our minds We support your efforts to improve fuel 

economy by laying out a long-term program, but encourage you to carefull y consider a balanced 

and thoughtfiul approach. 

We encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers 

America's needs for increased fuel economy while preserving the choices for families and 

businesses to meet their transportation needs without sacrificing affordability, safety, or jobs. 

NHTSA and EPA have already set strong standards for 2012-2016 that raise the fleet average by 

40% to 35 miles per gallon. Looking forward, technology improvements should continue to 

support increases in fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards. However, we recognize that 

overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individu4ls, families and 

businesses in Nevada and across the nation. 

it is important that standards for 201 72025 support a broad range of consumer needs in terms of 

utility and function. Americans need a range of vchidcs to meet their family and business needs. 

Large families require automobiles with sufficient passenger space, including room for multiple 

d-safety seats in the back. Small businesses need vans and utility vehiclçs to conduct 

cnce. Our agricultural employers depend on pickup trucks, asdo the construction industry 

WWW.RENOSPARKSCHAMBER.ORG

The Honorable Ray LaHood The Honorable Lisa Jackson m 

Secretary Administrator 

Department of Transportation Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20590 Washington, DC 20004 

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson: 

P.O. BOX 3499, RENO, NV 89505 775.337.3030 FAX 775.337.3038
and local trades. Every type of industry depends on vehicles, whether it is to carry out day-today business needs or to transport their employees to and from work, school, and home. 

Our region's businesses all share the need for affordable transportation. The next phase of fuel 

economy standards should not pick winners and losers, but should support a variety of 

technologies and fuel diversity to preserve affordability. If fuel economy standards increase too 

quickly, resulting in more expensive vehicles, riiany of our region's consumers can be expected 

to hold on to their older vehicles longer and defer buying a new car, which could put jobs across 

the country at risk and delay compliance with federal air quality standards. Affordability, 

customer choice, and job preservation is as much a priority as raising fuel economy. 

The Reno Sparks Chamber works every day to promote job creation and security for our region. 

We encourage you to carefully balance the factors that impact sensible fuel economy standards, 

including consumer choice, affordability and the economic concerns that weigh on our nation's 

fragile recovery. 

Tray Abney 

Director of Government Relations
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