Sen. Carper Applauds New Obama Administration Decision to Pursue Cleaner, More Fuel Efficient Vehicles

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) applauded a decision announced by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin the process of establishing more stringent greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks built in model years 2017 through 2025. This decision builds on the Administration’s successful effort earlier this year to raise the average fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and required, for the first time, CO2 emission standards for new vehicles. 

"This is further proof that the Obama Administration is serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil and cleaning the air we breathe," said Sen. Carper, chair of the Senate subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. "This effort to further increase fuel efficiency requirements for American cars, trucks and vans will help consumers save money at the pump while helping to ease harmful air pollution and our addiction to fossil fuels.  Pursuing these higher standards will also help ensure that our auto industry makes the next generation of fuel efficient cars, trucks and vans that are competitive in the global market place."

In 2007, Sen. Carper helped broker an increase in fuel-economy standards when Congress passed bipartisan legislation to increase, for the first time in more than 30 years, the fleet-wide average for all cars, trucks and SUVs from 25 to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. That "CAFE" increase, like this new rule, was designed to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign oil, cut harmful air pollution and accomplish the first two goals without harming the U.S. auto industry.