SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON - The U.S. EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
today announced a joint proposal for national standards for greenhouse
gas pollution from cars and trucks, along with strengthened fuel
economy standards.

According to EPA and NHTSA, the new
proposed standards will cut global warming pollution from vehicles by
30 percent, improve fuel economy to an average of about 35.5 miles per
gallon, and save drivers thousand of dollars over the life of the
vehicles – all while adopting a “size-based” standard favored by
domestic automakers.

Today’s action follows President
Obama’s historic clean car agreement announced in May that was
supported by car makers, states, and environmental organizations.

Following is a statement by Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director for NRDC:

“This
historic proposal moves America further down the road to cleaner, more
fuel-efficient vehicles. This unprecedented national program would
reduce global warming pollution, break our dependence on oil, and save
drivers money at the pump. Working together, the Obama administration,
states, the auto industry, and environmental leaders have come to an
agreement that will enable car makers to meet the challenges of the
21st century, while protecting our planet and our health.

“These
new national rules could not have happened without California's
ground-breaking standards to tackle global warming pollution from cars
and trucks.

“NRDC looks forward to working with EPA and
NHTSA to ensure that the new standards deliver the benefits promised in
last May’s clean car agreement.”

Background:

This
is EPA’s first action to curb global warming pollution under the Clean
Air Act, using the authority upheld by the Supreme Court’s landmark
2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. The two federal
agencies are expected to issue the final standards next March, after a
public comment period. The new standards will take effect with 2012
model cars and trucks and ramp up to full strength by 2016. The Obama
administration’s move to adopt California’s ground-breaking standards
reaffirms the state’s leadership role in tackling global warming
pollution through clean vehicle technology.

For more background on this agreement, read David Doniger’s blog: Clean Car Peace Treaty at White House