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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Tighter Vehicle Fuel Economy Rules Announced

Yesterday, the Department of Transportation proposed new standards to improve vehicle fuel efficiency under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program. In December, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act which requires the revisions to the CAFE standards.

The New York Times reports the proposed rule will actually be more progressive in setting fuel economy standards than Congress required: "The pace [Transportation Secretary Mary Peters] laid out is nearly 50 percent faster than what would be required to meet the law passed last December." Kudos to the Bush administration for recognizing a more aggressive course is possible and for enforcing federal law in the spirit intended.

When these regulations go into effect, they will represent the first meaningful action on fuel economy the federal government has taken in about three decades.

Of course, the impetus for the law which forced the administration to act is the need to address greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on oil. The nonprofit group Environmental Defense has released a statement which points out that while these regulations mark a positive step, further mandatory federal requirements are necessary to address global warming and oil dependence in a comprehensive fashion.

Environmental Defense's argument is important to remember because the Bush administration has repeatedly argued that the new fuel economy standards springing forth from the Energy Independence and Security Act are enough for now, and that any further efforts to reduce vehicle emissions or improve efficiency are unnecessary and "confusing."

But addressing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, and greenhouse gas emissions from other sources, is a complex problem situated at the nexus of environmental, economic, and foreign policy. Federal action on controlling emissions is like a chess match: The complexity of the situation requires a concerted attack that moves pieces in combination, rather than a narrow approach that can be easily impeded.

Administration officials and Congress should continue to look for new opportunities to curb emissions — keep their foot on the gas, so to speak.