President Obama’s efforts to control vehicular pollution

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At a ceremony with legislators, regulators, executives of 10 car companies and the United Auto Workers union, President Obama announced new auto emission and fuel economy regulations which the administration will put into force to reduce pollution. By 2016 cars and trucks would have to average at least 35.5 miles per gallon (up from the slated 35 mpg by 2020 which was set by a regulation in 2007).

The President said, ‘The status quo is no longer acceptable. We have done little to increase fuel efficiency of America’s cars and trucks for decades.” He went on, ‘While the United States makes up less than 5% of the world’s population, we create roughly a quarter of the world’s demand for oil. And this appetite comes at a tremendous price.’

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation would have to work together for the first time to bring these into force. The regulation would limit the amount of carbon dioxide emissions which vehicles emit.

When put into force this plan

1. Requires yearly 5% increases in fuel efficiency from 2012 through 2016, resulting in an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 miles per gallon for cars and trucks in 2016.
2. Cuts oil consumption by an estimated 1.8 billion barrels over the life of the program.
3. Cuts greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 900 million metric tons.
4. Supported by 10 car companies and the United Auto Workers union.
5. Sets one clear, national policy for all automakers, instead of standards from the Transportation Department, Environmental Protection Agency and a California standard that would apply to 13 other states