The Obama administration is rolling out a plan today to require heightened fuel-economy standards for cars, SUVs and light trucks by 2016 that would save consumers money and dramatically cut U.S. oil consumption.
“For too long, our auto industries faced uncertain and conflicting fuel economy standards. And that made it difficult for you to plan down the road. And that’s why, today, we are launching – for the first time in history – a new national standard aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all cars and trucks sold in America. It creates an even playing field. It’s an action that is long overdue. It will give our auto companies clarity, and stability, and predictability,” President Barack Obama told autoworkers at a GM plant in Warren, Ohio.
The plan would require an average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. That standard would reduce oil consumption by an estimated 1.8 billion barrels and save consumers more than $3,000 in fuel costs over the lifetime of cars purchased in 2016 or later.
“Consumers will be able to keep their money in their pockets, put less pollution in the air, and help reduce a dependence on imported oil that sends billions of dollars out of our economy every year,” said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.
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