Obama issues new fuel-saving policy

[TheMathieu]

President Obama will announce Tuesday that two government agencies will begin a new phase of greenhouse gas standards, a key component of his Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon emissions and improve the fuel efficiency of American trucks.

The president plans to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation to develop the next phase of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards by March 2016, during a morning visit to a distribution center in Upper Marlboro, Md.

These “heavy-duty vehicles” represented 4% of registered vehicles, but accounted for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, according to the White House. They are currently the second-largest source of on-road fuel use, after passenger cars and light trucks.

Obama’s first round of standards was finalized in September 2011, and is projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and an estimated $50 billion in fuel costs.

http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/obama-issues-new-fuel-saving-policy

[TBF]

1. Good news! nt

[ProSense]

2. NRDC: President Obama Driving America to Cleaner Energy Future

NRDC: President Obama Driving America to Cleaner Energy Future

WASHINGTON (February 18, 2014) – President Obama’s newly announced fuel-efficiency standards for heavy trucks will help such vehicles go farther on less fuel while further curbing carbon pollution from America’s transportation sector, the largest source of carbon pollution after power plants.

The following is a statement from Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, who is scheduled to be a White House guest at this morning’s event in Upper Marlboro, Md.:

“The president’s initiative is an important step driving America toward a cleaner energy future. Strong heavy truck efficiency standards will not only cut carbon pollution that fuels climate change, but also save consumers money every time they go to a store and save truckers money at the pump. Just as clean car standards are revitalizing the American auto industry, which added more than 370,000 jobs, setting the bar higher for trucks will further encourage innovation in the industry. This is a win-win for the environment and the economy.”

http://www.nrdc.org/media/2014/140218.asp

Why Obama’s New Fuel Standards For Big Trucks Matter
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/18/3300031/obama-fuel-standards-trucks/