Automakers dodge CAFE bullet;committee rejects bid to dramaticaly raise fuel standard
05-11-06, 09:56 AM
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Automakers dodge CAFE bullet;committee rejects bid to dramaticaly raise fuel standard
By HARRY STOFFER | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published 05/11/06, 11:48 am et
WASHINGTON -- A key congressional committee on Wednesday rejected a bid to dramatically increase fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks.
The vote was the first real test of lawmaker sentiment about fuel economy standards in the wake of public uproar over $3-a-gallon gasoline.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 36-to-17 against a proposal to require cars and trucks together to average 33 mpg by 2015 -- a more than 30 percent increase over today's average of about 25 mpg.
The committee then voted 28-to-26 in favor of a bill giving the Bush administration authority to change fuel economy rules for cars in ways similar to its recent overhaul of rules for trucks.
The bill will be considered next by the full House of Representatives and is likely to be a target for more amendments designed to respond to what some call a national energy crisis.
But the committee vote seemed to prove that while many lawmakers are worried about consumer and voter reaction to gasoline prices, the majority remains opposed to sharp hikes in fuel economy standards.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., warned that the proposed hike to 33 mpg would cause plants to close and more U.S. auto workers to lose their jobs.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the committee chairman, said the corporate average fuel economy program, or CAFE, is too complex for just "pulling a number out of the air."
But others, mostly Democrats, said a bill giving the administration more authority to change CAFE rules is little more than political cover.
Some warned that the administration plan could actually lead to more fuel consumption, not less.
In late March the administration adopted new rules for light trucks for the 2008-11 model years. The rules create different fuel economy targets for vehicles of different sizes, to discourage downsizing, and require automakers to boost light truck fuel economy to an average of about 24 mpg by 2011.
The standard this year is 21.6 mpg.
The car standard is set by law at 27.5 mpg.
After gasoline prices rose to about $3 a gallon nationwide and lawmakers rushed to respond, the administration decided to ask for legislation for authority to change the car rules.
source : autoweek
AutoWeek | Published 05/11/06, 11:48 am et
WASHINGTON -- A key congressional committee on Wednesday rejected a bid to dramatically increase fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks.
The vote was the first real test of lawmaker sentiment about fuel economy standards in the wake of public uproar over $3-a-gallon gasoline.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 36-to-17 against a proposal to require cars and trucks together to average 33 mpg by 2015 -- a more than 30 percent increase over today's average of about 25 mpg.
The committee then voted 28-to-26 in favor of a bill giving the Bush administration authority to change fuel economy rules for cars in ways similar to its recent overhaul of rules for trucks.
The bill will be considered next by the full House of Representatives and is likely to be a target for more amendments designed to respond to what some call a national energy crisis.
But the committee vote seemed to prove that while many lawmakers are worried about consumer and voter reaction to gasoline prices, the majority remains opposed to sharp hikes in fuel economy standards.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., warned that the proposed hike to 33 mpg would cause plants to close and more U.S. auto workers to lose their jobs.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the committee chairman, said the corporate average fuel economy program, or CAFE, is too complex for just "pulling a number out of the air."
But others, mostly Democrats, said a bill giving the administration more authority to change CAFE rules is little more than political cover.
Some warned that the administration plan could actually lead to more fuel consumption, not less.
In late March the administration adopted new rules for light trucks for the 2008-11 model years. The rules create different fuel economy targets for vehicles of different sizes, to discourage downsizing, and require automakers to boost light truck fuel economy to an average of about 24 mpg by 2011.
The standard this year is 21.6 mpg.
The car standard is set by law at 27.5 mpg.
After gasoline prices rose to about $3 a gallon nationwide and lawmakers rushed to respond, the administration decided to ask for legislation for authority to change the car rules.
source : autoweek
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