We have made still another breakthrough on greenhouse gases. The EPA and the US Department of Transportation have established new standards for fuel economy and GHG emissions from cars and light trucks. The EPA release includes soundbites that have Lisa Jackson saying “We expect to reduce greenhouse emissions by the equivalent of 42,000,000 cars over the life of the program.”
This is a development that has been in the works for over a year. This may well further accelerate progress toward the electrification of surface transportation. As Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says “These historic new standards set ambitious, but achievable, fuel economy requirements for the automotive industry that will also encourage new and emerging technologies.” And ClimateBiz reports that the new rules will “… save the country’s corporate fleets billions of dollars from improved fuel economy.”
Here’s the President making the announcement.
Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s EPA Administrator was Carol Browner and she is now Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. She was right behind the President at the announcement, flanked by Jackson and LaHood. Here is an interview with her by ABC that gives us a look in to the talks between Congress and the White House on climate and energy legislation and some other important issues like offshore drilling.
Here is something I hope we can take to the bank: “We need a cap on carbon; we absolutely believe that, we are open to what are the mechanisms for ensuring what is the lowest cost for compliance. A trading regime certainly can be a very important part of that, and senators are looking at a variety of options. It’s fairly safe to say that they will incorporate some type of trading mechanism.” Works for me.
We are getting there!
