From AAIA Capital Report
President Obama signed a memorandum on May 21 directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin rulemaking to develop fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks for model years 2014-2018. The president called for the rulemaking to be finalized by July 30, 2011 for implementation in 2014.
The memorandum states that as part of the rule, the agencies should propose strategies “to achieve substantial annual progress in reducing transportation sector emissions and fossil fuel consumption consistent with my administration’s overall energy and climate security goals. These strategies should consider whether particular segments of the diverse heavy-duty vehicle sector present special opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy.” The memorandum cites that large tractor trailers, which represent half of all greenhouse gas emissions, can “reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20 percent and increase their fuel efficiency by as much as 25 percent with use of existing technologies.”
The Presidential Memorandum also requests that the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) develop a coordinated program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel efficiency for cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2017-2025. The directive would build on the recently finalized greenhouse gas and fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks that applied to model years 2012-2016.
The president stated that the federal agencies should work with the state of California to develop a technical assessment on available technologies to help car companies meet future greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards by Sept. 1. Further, by Sept. 30, the agencies were directed to issue a Notice of Intent to Issue a Proposed Rule that announces plans for setting stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty vehicles for model year 2017 and beyond.
A copy of the Presidential Memorandum Regarding Fuel Efficiency Standards can be viewed at www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-regarding-fuel-efficiency-standards.
