Federal agencies sided with the oil industry in relaxing the gasoline mileage requirements for cars and light trucks in model years 2021 to 2026, said the pro-ethanol group Renewable Fuels Association. The DOT and EPA finalized the new standards, which were proposed two years ago, on Tuesday, saying they would reduce the cost of new vehicles by an average $1,000.
“Once again, EPA has sided with the oil industry over automakers, biofuel producers, farmers, environmental advocates, and consumers,” said the RFA. The new standards would pit the Trump administration against California and were expected to be challenged in court, said the Los Angeles Times. “It is among the biggest steps the administration has taken to reverse an existing environmental policy,” said the newspaper.
“We are delivering on President Trump’s promise to correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. The new rule will require automakers to achieve a 1.5 percent annual increase in so-called corporate average fuel economy and a similar decree in carbon dioxide emissions through model year 2026. It replaces an Obama-era rule setting a 5 percent goal. “This rule is the largest deregulatory initiative of this administration,” said the DOT and EPA.
Like the RFA, the American Coalition for Ethanol said the new mileage standards were ” a missed opportunity to provide a roadmap for high octane mid-level ethanol blends.” The group backs legislation to set a minimum standard of 98 octane gasoline “from clean sources of octane that reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, such as ethanol.”
“The Trump administration’s anti-science decision to gut fuel standards will unleash massive amounts of pollution into the air at the worst possible time,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.