As part of a national road trip to promote tighter fuel economy standards, John Grant, a campaigner for the Natural Resources Defense Council, drove around Baltimore in a Hybrid today (7/24/07), stopping at the Inner Harbor and several gas stations.

On the waterfront near Harborplace, Grant buttonholed shoppers and tourists. He urged them to write to Maryland lawmakers urging them to support legislation that would raise the federal fuel economy standard from 25 miles per gallon to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020.  He noted that Congress hasn't raised fuel economy standards significantly in three decades, and this lack of action has caused pain for consumers and environmental problems.  "It's really important, with America reaching record gas prices," Grant said. "These better fuel economy standards would save us about 1.6 million barrels of oil a day by 2020."

For more information on the NDRC's "Drive Beyond Oil Road Trip," go  to: http://www.drivebeyondoil.typepad.com/