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Friday, May 04, 2007

In the Senate, Unlikely Allies on CAFE Reform

Congressional Quarterly (subscription) is reporting the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will move forward with an ambitious proposal to improve vehicle fuel economy. The legislation, scheduled for mark-up next week, would reform the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard by increasing to 35 from 27.5 the miles per gallon ratio for all passenger vehicles.

The senators responsible for the emerging proposal are Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ted Stevens (R-AK). While the support of Feinstein and Inouye is predictable, Stevens, the committee's ranking member, has surprised environmentalists with his persistence in reforming CAFE standards. In the 110th Congress's early days, Stevens introduced legislation proposing an even more ambition mpg requirement (40mpg), but also proposed an exemption for light trucks.