President Obama Announces Next Phase of Landmark Clean Car Agreement

President Obama announced two major new steps today to reduce
America's carbon pollution and oil dependence. He instructed the
Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation,
working closely with California and other stakeholders, to issue a
second round of greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards covering cars
and light trucks for model years 2017-25. These will build on the
landmark clean car standards for the 2012-16 model years announced in
April. The president also directed those agencies to work together with
California and stakeholders on the nation's first-ever greenhouse gas
and fuel economy standards for heavier trucks, from urban delivery
trucks to 18-wheelers, that will be built in model years 2014-18.

Below is a statement from David Doniger, policy director for the Climate Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"These
are big steps to curb America's dependence on oil and cut our
contribution to global warming. The cars and trucks on the nation's
roads and highways account for more than 60 percent of the oil we use
and more than 25 percent of our carbon pollution. These steps are
especially welcome in the wake of the BP disaster in the Gulf of
Mexico.

"The new standards build on the clean car peace
treaty announced at the White House one year ago. That treaty brought
together federal and state governments, industry, labor, and
environmentalists in a remarkable agreement to cut pollution, improve
our national security, and rebuild our economy. The second round of
standards for cleaner cars, and the first-ever standards for heavy
trucks, will save consumers billions of dollars at the gas pump, the
grocery shelves, and the shopping center.

"These
directives harness the know-how of two federal agencies and the state
of California, which together have decades of experience bringing us
cleaner, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles. The leadership of
California and other states has been critical in achieving each round
of progress towards cleaner cars and trucks.

"These are
important steps to cut our oil dependence and carbon pollution. We
look forward to working with President Obama to complete his clean
energy and climate protection agenda by passing comprehensive
legislation in Congress this year."

For more information on the announcement please go to this recent blog from Roland Hwang:
California Driving the Nation Forward on Clean Cars