Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards [View all]

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Source: The White House

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2012


Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards


Consumer Savings Comparable to Lowering Price of Gasoline by $1 Per Gallon by 2025

WASHINGTON, DC – The Obama Administration today finalized groundbreaking standards that will increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025. When combined with previous standards set by this Administration, this move will nearly double the fuel efficiency of those vehicles compared to new vehicles currently on our roads. In total, the Administration’s national program to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions will save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.

“These fuel standards represent the single most important step we’ve ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said President Obama. “This historic agreement builds on the progress we’ve already made to save families money at the pump and cut our oil consumption. By the middle of the next decade our cars will get nearly 55 miles per gallon, almost double what they get today. It’ll strengthen our nation's energy security, it's good for middle class families and it will help create an economy built to last.”

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Achieving the new fuel efficiency standards will encourage innovation and investment in advanced technologies that increase our economic competitiveness and support high-quality domestic jobs in the auto industry. The final standards were developed by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA following extensive engagement with automakers, the United Auto Workers, consumer groups, environmental and energy experts, states, and the public. Last year, 13 major automakers, which together account for more than 90 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States, announced their support for the new standards. By aligning Federal and state requirements and providing manufacturers with long-term regulatory certainty and compliance flexibility, the standards encourage investments in clean, innovative technologies that will benefit families, promote U.S. leadership in the automotive sector, and curb pollution.



Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120828/AUTO01/208280392/1361/White-House-finalizes-2025-%E2%80%98historic%E2%80%99-fuel-rules-for-automakers

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There's a link to story at Detroit News but this copy came into my mailbox around noon EST without a WH link.

Must thank the O admin for this and keep the good news coming. Not everything has to be done through the do-nothing Congress.