EPA to Announce Strict New Fuel-Efficiency Standards

By requiring the U.S. auto fleet to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, the standards announced today by the Obama administration will significantly cut U.S. oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, reports Juliet Eilperin.

1 minute read

August 28, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


According to Eilperin, Tuesday's announcement of the "historic" rules by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, "will mark the culmination of a compromise
the White House forged between the auto industry, environmentalists,
labor unions and the state of California."

"Unlike many energy policies enacted under President Obama, the vehicle
standards are a relatively uncontroversial move embraced by industry and
environmentalists alike," notes Eilperin. However not all are supportive of the new rules: "presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has vowed to overturn them if elected."

"Kevin
Kennedy, who directs the U.S. climate initiative at the World Resources
Institute, noted that light-duty vehicle emissions represent
approximately 17 percent of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions."

"These
rules represent one of the best opportunities for the administration to
take a bite out of emissions that are damaging the planet, and in a way
that's good for consumers and the auto industry," Kennedy said.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in The Washington Post

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