Obama Orders Higher Auto Fuel Efficiency, Lower CO2 Emissions

President Barack Obama (Photo courtesy the White House)

In what he called "a down payment on a broader and sustained effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," the president directed the Department of Transportation to establish higher fuel efficiency standards for carmakers' 2011 model year.

The standard, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standard, was established in 1975 in the wake of the Arab oil embargo. In model year 1990, the passenger car standard was amended to 27.5 miles per gallon, and it has remained at this level. In 2007, new light truck standards of 22.2 mpg were issued.

The second memo paves the way for California and 18 other states to raise tailpipe emissions standards for the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide above and beyond the national standard.

The states had repeatedly requested a waiver of weaker federal standards, but the Bush administration's Environmental Protection Agency denied the request last year, prompting a lawsuit by the states.

"Instead of serving as a partner, Washington stood in their way," President Obama said. "The days of Washington dragging its heels are over."

Rush hour in Inglewood, California (Photo by Curtis Perry)

The new EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who is known to favor the waiver, will reconsider California's request. The Clean Air Act provides that once California's request for a waiver has been approved, other states may follow California's lead.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded President Obama's commitment to move swiftly to allow California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

"With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a strong ally in the White House. Allowing California and other states to aggressively reduce their own harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions would be a historic win for clean air and for millions of Americans who want more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars," Schwarzenegger said.

"My administration has been fighting for this waiver since 2005 and we will not give up until it is granted because we owe it to our children and to our grandchildren to do more than just protect our natural resources, we must also work to improve them so that we leave behind an environment for future generations that is better than it is today," the governor said.

Last week, the governor sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he direct the EPA to act promptly and favorably in reconsidering California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver so the states can reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles.

Both of President Obama's moves met with approval from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 11 major automakers.

"The Alliance supports a nationwide program that bridges state and federal concerns and moves all stakeholders forward, and we are ready to work with the administration on developing a national approach," said Dave McCurdy, Alliance president and chief executive.

Since California first sought federal permission to set its own fuel economy and CO2 emissions standards, there have been many developments.

McCurdy recounted them:

• the U.S. Supreme Court directed EPA to reconsider greenhouse gas regulations for autos


• the Congress passed stringent new fuel economy standards requiring CO2 reductions of at least 30 percent


• automakers are offering more than 25 models of hybrids for sale in 2009


• President Obama and a Democratic Senate and House are considering a comprehensive, economy-wide approach to CO2 reductions


• the credit crunch is producing the toughest marketplace since World War II.

"Automakers seek a federal-state solution that provides us with compliance clarity and one national standard," McCurdy said.

He said Alliance needs the Obama administration to issue fuel economy standards for model year 2011, because automakers are working on their product plans now and need the certainty of final standards.

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said the president's remarks about the importance of American leadership on clean energy and global warming were "music" to her ears.

"I have long said that granting California the waiver so that California and 18 other states can address tailpipe emissions from cars is the best first step the president can take to combat global warming and reduce our dependence on foreign oil."

Pointing out that the scientists and professionals at EPA have expressed their view that science and the law demand that the waiver be granted, Boxer said, "As chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I will be working with the new EPA administrator to ensure that the California waiver moves forward as quickly as possible."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.