The Environmental Protection Agency plans to weaken emissions rules for vehicles covering model years 2022–2025, according to multiple reports.
The EPA on Friday submitted to the White House a draft of a so-called final determination on the Obama-era national fuel economy rules, according to the Office of Management and Budget website. The notice does not include details of the proposal, but Reuters reports the agency is expected to say that the 2022-2025 model year rules on fuel economy for cars and light-duty trucks, such as pickups and sport utility vehicles, must be revised, although the agency won’t immediately propose new requirements.
The EPA, under Administrator Scott Pruitt, has long been expected to ease the Obama administration rules, negotiated with the industry in 2011, that would require automakers to nearly double the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
The EPA has a Sunday deadline for deciding if the 2022-2025 standards are achievable or whether they should be adjusted.
Automakers have pressed for relief from the rules, arguing that low gasoline prices have weakened consumer demand for hybrid-electric cars and smaller, fuel-efficient models.
Less fuel-efficient SUVs and light trucks have become more popular in recent years, meaning manufacturers are having difficulty hitting the fuel-efficiency targets, automakers say. They say complying with former President Barack Obama’s standards could cost the industry $200 billion, threaten jobs and increase vehicle prices.
Emissions from automobiles are the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution that most scientists say contributes to manmade climate change.
It remains to be seen how the EPA will settle a dispute with California over the fuel efficiency rules. California, which can set its own fuel efficiency standards, has warned it could withdraw from the nationwide vehicle emissions program if the EPA limits the regulations.
Federal law since 1967 has allowed California, because of severe air pollution problems caused by smog, to obtain a waiver, permitting it to set its own fuel efficiency regulations that are tougher than the national standards. Other states can follow California’s standards instead of the national rules.
A spokesman for the California Air Resources Board told the Washington Examiner it is “troubled” by reports that the EPA is looking to weaken the standards, and says that doing so would jeopardize the viability of the national program.
“We are troubled about the rumors that the EPA has found the standards to be too aggressive and that they need to be weakened,” said Stanley Young. “California paved the way for a single national program and is fully committed to maintaining it. However, we feel that this rumored finding — if official — places that program in jeopardy. We feel strongly that weakening the program will waste fuel, increase emissions, and cost consumers more money.”
