New vehicle rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions spark debate

Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change, makes a forceful case for why we need to slash greenhouse gas emissions from cars and small trucks: It will cut America’s oil consumption; foster the nation’s energy independence; save consumers money at the pump; and help revive domestic auto manufacturers. What she doesn’t volunteer is that it will curb climate change. The Obama administration is crafting two regulations — one targeting passenger vehicles, another focused on heavier trucks and buses — that will do more to cut global warming pollution than any other policy in his term. But that fact is barely mentioned as officials negotiate with automakers, environmentalists and others, particularly about the contentious car and light truck rule due out in September. Has the administration given up on climate change after legislation died in the Senate last year, as some advocates now charge? Or has it simply re-branded the idea and its goals, as others complain? With potentially dramatic fuel-use requirements coming to the car and truck worlds in particular, the issue has returned to prominence — however it may be defined. Just last week, officials from EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told U.S automakers it was considering requiring their fleet to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025. But automakers and conservative politicians are facing off against environmentalists over what mileage passenger vehicles can achieve...more