The U.S. federal government is accelerating goals for fuel economy, moves President Barack Obama said will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil. Obama spoke ahead of Thursday’s signing of rules from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation setting average fuel economy targets of 35.5 miles per gallon for 2016 car models.The rules supplant a 2007 law that set a target of 35 average mpg by 2020, which itself is about 10 mpg higher than current standards.
Obama promised that over the program’s term — it covers model years 2012-16 — “folks (will) spend a little less at the pump” as it also cuts into the United States’ foreign oil dependence.
The EPA will also be putting out its first limits on greenhouse gas emissions by vehicles.
The rules signing comes about a year after Obama was joined by car makers in announcing a “historic agreement” that required manufacturers to increase average fuel efficiency by 5 percent by model year 2012 and pushed standards to 39 mpg for passenger cars and 30 mph for light trucks and sport utility vehicles.
{United Press International, Inc./Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
