Today President Obama announced a new national fuel-efficiency and auto-emissions policy for the auto industry that will result in an average fuel economy standard for all new cars and trucks of 35.5 mpg by 2016, which could ultimately save almost 2 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program. Not too shabby, Big O.
As numerous sources point out, this new policy also represents a consolidation of 3 previous standards (state standards, the EPA, the DOT) into the one national policy, which closely resembles the policy that California has been seeking to implement for some time now. The Department of Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, goes so far as to say:
“President Obama is uniting federal and state governments, the auto industry, labor unions and the environmental community behind a program that will provide for the biggest leap in history to make automobiles more fuel efficient…This program lessens our dependence on oil and is good for America and the planet.”
Great, although I would point out that my own auto emissions have been close to ZERO for about a decade living in NYC. But I guess not everyone can live here, and any steps in the right direction are to be encouraged.
The Beatles – Drive My Car:
Beep beep, beep beep, yeah!
-Drew
East Village to Brooklyn 