ACEEE Applauds Obama's New Fuel Economy And Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards For Vehicles

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May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—The Obama Administration today announced automobile fuel economy and emissions standards that represent a critical step toward reduced oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

The new standards will require that cars and light trucks achieve an average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, up from about 26 miles per gallon today. This accelerates the schedule of fuel economy improvement set in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and will bring greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles down to the levels required by California’s landmark emissions standards.

ACEEE estimates that the new standards will reduce oil consumption by an additional 360,000 barrels per day in 2020, beyond the savings that would have been achieved by the existing requirement of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

This action by the President will help to ensure that domestic auto manufacturers retool at a time when being a leader on fuel efficiency is essential to survival. The higher standards will also put American consumers in a far better position to deal with future fuel price increases.

Source: ACEEE