Obama’s new mileage rules will be first real step to curb planet-warming emissions

[ProSense]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2009

Sierra Club Hails Obama Plan for Clean Cars

Plan Mirrors Landmark California Effort to Slash Oil Dependence, Emissions

Washington, D.C.--President Obama will tomorrow announce a comprehensive national standard addressing fuel economy and global warming emissions from our cars, trucks, and SUVs. Media reports indicate that the new national standard roughly mirrors the proposed California clean car standards—cutting global warming emissions approximately 30 percent by 2016 and significantly increasing fuel economy This is the first national tailpipe standard for global warming emissions. The administration will also reportedly grant California the Clean Air Act waiver for its clean cars program that it has long been seeking and was unlawfully denied by the Bush administration.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

"President Obama is putting the pedal to the floor when it comes to slashing our dependence on oil and confronting global warming. Last month the administration closed the books on the Bush era of climate denial once and for all by acknowledging the threat of global warming, and now today they moving forward with a plan that will give new life to the American auto industry and ensure that the next generation of clean, efficient autos will be made right here in the U.S.A

"In addition to dramatically reducing the global warming emissions from our vehicles, this move will slash our dependence on oil and make us more energy independent. Congress put us on the road toward more fuel efficient vehicles two years ago when it passed the first increase in fuel economy standards in more than 30 years. Now President Obama is dramatically accelerating our progress.

"In another clean break with the unlawful and irrational policies of its predecessor, the Obama administration will also reportedly grant California its longstanding request for a Clean Air Act waiver for its landmark clean cars program. This is yet another strong example of the new direction President Obama and EPA Administrator Jackson have taken—one based on the rule of law and sound science, not petty politics.

"Today's announcement is one of the most significant efforts undertaken by any president, ever, to end our addiction to oil and seriously slash our global warming emissions. The speed with which the Obama administration is moving to build the clean energy economy has been breathtaking. President Obama clearly sees the big picture when comes to rebuilding our economy, making the clean energy future a reality, and fighting global warming. "

Updated to add:

Obama’s new mileage rules will be first real step to curb planet-warming emissions

President Obama is expected to unveil new fuel-economy standards for automobiles on Tuesday—the first major step by his administration to limit planet-warming greenhouse gases.

The new standards will reportedly raise fleet-wide standards for cars to 42 miles per gallon by 2016, up from 27.5 mpg now. For light trucks, the required fleet average will rise to about 26.2 mpg by 2016, up from about 24 mpg now. Ultimately, this will mean a 30 percent reduction in global-warming emissions from new vehicles by 2016, with improvements beginning in the 2011 model year.

The move will push the entire country to meet the aggressive standards proposed by the state of California. California and 13 other states had requested a waiver from the U.S. EPA that would allow them to set tougher auto-emissions standards than the federal government by requiring cars to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide—and the only viable way to cut CO2 emissions is to require cars to get better gas mileage. The Bush administration denied California’s request last year, but Obama directed the EPA to reconsider the petition almost immediately after he took office.

The Obama administration will now officially grant California’s request for a waiver, and at the same time will adopt California’s standard for the whole country. This means fuel-economy and emissions standards will be combined into one straightforward set of rules.

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Edited title.

[msongs]

1. the cash for clunkers is looking like a big bust and huge missed opportunity tho

nice to see these new standards. requirements for trading in clunkers for a big gain in mpg are weak. they ought to be much higher than what is reported in the newspaper.

Msongs

[Telly Savalas]

2. Looks like a good plan.

Sorry for turning this website into Obama Teenbeat, but it looks like a pretty good policy he's going to be proposing here.

[deminwi]

3. Hate to be a negative poster

There is no way this country is going to have a fleet of cars that average 42 mpg. I would bet any amount of money on that. Throw in all of our military, political (you know about all the limos that our politican ride around in), and your folks that just don't want small economy cars and there is no way you will have cars that average 42 mpg. I know that I will only own a large car and I can't see them making one of them with those kinds of stats.

[ProSense]

4. OK, lol! n/t