Fuel Economy Increases Will Help Ease Pain at the Pump

Statement

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), the original authors of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act enacted as part of the 2007 energy bill, today applauded an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issuing a "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" on the light duty fuel economy standards for the 2017-2025 period.

An agreement was reached in July between 13 automakers and the United Auto Workers to raise fuel economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks by Model Year 2025. This was consistent with the intent of Senators Feinstein and Snowe's legislation to set fuel economy standards for cars and trucks at the highest, or "maximum feasible," level each year between 2011 and 2030.

Senator Feinstein said: "Today's announcement marks an important step in the long battle to increase the country's fuel economy standards. For years Senator Snowe and I have worked together to close loopholes and fight for the highest possible passenger vehicle fuel efficiency. In 2007 we celebrated a great victory with the passage of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, which mandated "maximum feasible' fuel efficiency increases. A key provision of that law required that all fuel economy standards be based on science and increase as quickly as technically feasible. That mandate resulted in today's EPA-DOT proposal and I'm proud we played a key role in that success."

Senator Snowe said: "With gasoline prices up more than 20 percent this year, energy price spikes are an unacceptable burden on the American family and our country's economy. While I look forward reviewing this proposal, I am encouraged that the fuel economy standards outlined today will maintain consumer choice for cars and trucks, improve American competitiveness, and reduce oil consumption and the price at the pump for families nationwide already struggling to weather the current economic storm. The law that Senator Feinstein and I wrote was intended to cost-effectively move our country beyond our expensive oil consumption levels, and I am pleased that this step is consistent with the intent of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007."

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