Striking a balance between common sense and conservation, President Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation issued a new rule that makes two critically important changes to fuel economy standards for vehicles. First, the president stopped an Obama-era regulation that requires new vehicles to meet an unrealistic fuel efficiency target of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. In its place, the EPA’s new Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule will now require the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to average 40.4 mpg in model years 2021-2026. Additionally, the rule reminds California that it is still in the United States — it can’t mandate its own higher standards, which would have the effect of increasing prices for consumers in every other state.
Consumers and conservationists should welcome both changes. The president understands that consumer demand and private sector innovation are the keys to economic growth, energy independence, and sustainable environmental stewardship. The new rule will help both our economic and natural environments.
