Thursday, April 1, 2010

White House mandates new fuel efficiency standards

White House mandates new fuel efficiency standards



By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 1, 2010; 3:26 PM

The Obama administration finalized the first national rules curbing greenhouse gas emissions Thursday, mandating that the U.S. car and light-truck fleet reach an average fuel efficiency of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

The new fuel efficiency standards, issued by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency as the result of a May 2009 deal with the auto industry, represent a peaceful end to a contentious legal battle over how to regulate tailpipe emissions. At a time when it remains unclear whether Congress can pass climate legislation this year, the new rules also mark the White House's most significant achievement yet in addressing global warming.

No comments: