Cleaner Cars for All

The Obama Administration is about to weigh in on national standards for the greenhouse gases that your personal vehicle emits. According to a report in the Washington Post, the "administration is considering establishing national rules for regulating greenhouse gas emissions for automobiles." A move to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions from a vehicle would likely mean improving fuel efficiency or miles-per-gallon (MPG).

This move would be a welcome ones by consumers, who would appreciate cars that could go further on a tank of gas. Moreover additional innovation from struggling Detroit automakers would be a welcome sign, even if this innovation were required by law.

A push for stronger emissions standards for cars has been in the works for years, starting in California in 2002 with the passage of the California Clean Cars Law. This law would have required autos sold in the state to have improved their fleet-wide fuel efficiency to 42 MPG by 2020. This standard was subsequently adopted by 13 other states, including Maryland. But attempts to implement this law in California and other states were blocked by the EPA in the Bush Administration.

An official of the Obama Administration, speaking on anonymity as the Post reports, also commented on the prospect for cap-and-trade legislation dealing with global warming.

The administration is engaged with Congress to pass cap-and-trade legislation, which the president believes is far superior to a regulatory approach using the existing Clean Air Act. If [the Environmental Protection Agency] finds that greenhouse gases endanger health or welfare, the next steps would be taken thoughtfully and with input from all stakeholders.