Carper Praises President’s Continued Leadership on Improved Fuel Economy and Emission Standards for Cars and Trucks

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) praised the Obama Administration’s announcement of "a path forward" for efforts to improve fuel economy and emission standards for cars and trucks.  The President’s announcement comes in response to requirements established by the landmark energy bill of 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6), that the fuel economy of cars and trucks must increase to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.  These increased efficiency standards were secured as part of a hard-fought compromise forged among environmentalists and car companies with the help of Sen. Carper. 

"President Obama’s new ‘path forward’ for enhanced car and truck fuel efficiency is just the type of leadership we need to jumpstart the next generation of advanced vehicles that can be made and sold right here in America and particularly in Delaware," said Sen. Carper.  "This decision will reduce our reliance on foreign oil, reduce the amount of pollution we put into the air, and increase the competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry. The President continues to build on a compromise I helped secure in 2007 that raised the fuel economy standards for the first time in over 20 years.  The President’s policy sets clear, achievable goals to increase fuel economy and reduce air pollution and put us on a realistic path to achieving those goals.  The Administration is also providing the tools and resources to automotive companies to harness American ingenuity to design and build the next generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks.   This proposal includes a big push to develop electric vehicles which will help companies like Fisker Automotive, as they work to manufacture plug-in electric vehicles in Wilmington"

To meet the more stringent fuel and emission requirements established by the Energy Independence and Security Act, President Obama is directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create the first-ever National Policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks for Model Years 2014-2018, and an extension of the National Program for cars and light-duty trucks to Model Year 2017 and beyond. The President’s directive includes support for the development of advanced vehicle infrastructure, especially electric vehicles. It also directs EPA to reduce non-greenhouse-gas pollutants from motor vehicles.  

Following the President’s directive today, and with the support of a wide and diverse array of stakeholders, including auto manufacturers, the State of California, the environmental community, and other states, EPA and DOT will develop forthcoming rulemaking proposals to achieve these goals, and continue building a stronger foundation for a clean energy economy and the next generation of advanced vehicles.