For Immediate Release: January 26, 2009
Contact: David Willett, 202-675-6698
Praise for Obama Plans on Fuel Economy
Washington, DC: In addition to today directing EPA to consider granting a waiver to California for its clean car law, President Obama also indicated that his administration will issue new fuel economy standards in the coming months that will go beyond what the Bush administration had started.
The Bush Administration did not issue a final rule for model year 2011-2015 vehicles under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, thereby providing a tremendous opportunity for President Obama and his Department of Transportation to issue the first mandated increases in fuel economy for cars in decades.
"We look forward to working with Secretary of Transportation LaHood and others to ensure that new standards will put the best fuel savings technologies to work to help meet President Obama's important oil savings and global warming goals," said Ann Mesnikoff, Sierra Club's Senior Washington Representative. "President Obama has made it clear that he wants fuel economy standards that will save consumers money at the pump and help reduce our dangerous dependence on oil."
"We believe that the auto industry should have no trouble meeting the challenge set by our new President," said Mesnikoff. "The industry has the technology and the know-how to comply with both California's standards and new fuel economy standards. It is time for the industry to demonstrate to the American people (who have already given them billions in taxpayer dollars) that they are committed to meeting the standards that science and the President have stated are necessary ."
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