US to unveil new policy on auto fuel standards

• Source: Shanghai Daily
• [13:37 May 19 2009]
• Comments

The administration would not discuss the pending announcement other than to note that action on emissions and fuel economy was long overdue.

"I think you'll see tomorrow important, groundbreaking steps in that area," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

The administration in April opened the way to regulating emissions by declaring climate-warming pollution a danger to human health and welfare, in a sharp policy shift from the Bush administration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declaration was seen as a strong signal to the international community that the United States intends to seriously combat climate change.

Moreover, Congress is considering legislation to cut carbon emissions emitted by cars, coal-fired power plants and oil refineries and other sources. The bill proposes a 17 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020.

The Obama White House in February reversed another Bush administration directive by ordering EPA to reconsider California's request for authority to regulate emissions from new cars and trucks under a law the state passed in 2006.

The agency said the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to allow California to adopt its own emissions standards for motor vehicles due to the seriousness of the state's air pollution challenges.

More than a dozen other states supported California's plan but the auto industry fought it in court, fearing dual state and federal standards would result in a patchwork of regulations that would make vehicle planning and production more complex and expensive.

(Agencies)