The US Department of Transportation has ordered the reversal of fuel efficiency rules, which have been in place since the 1970s energy crisis. Secretary Sean Duffy’s action aligns with President Trump’s agenda to promote oil and biofuel production.
Duffy’s order aims to remove “artificially high” fuel economy standards that require automakers to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles, making cars more expensive for buyers and reducing consumer choice. The new Secretary argues that the existing rules are contrary to Administration policy and need to be revised to better align with Trump’s priorities.
However, critics argue that repealing these rules will increase costs at the pump, tailpipe pollution, and jeopardize US automakers’ future. Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign, said the only beneficiaries will be oil executives and China’s auto industry.
The fuel economy standards were introduced to help drivers use less fuel by requiring automakers’ fleets to meet average mile-per-gallon targets that initially increased with each model year. However, progress stalled in the 1980s, and recent years have seen significant improvements in gasoline-powered vehicles due to increasingly stringent standards.
The latest rules, set under the Biden administration, require automakers to average about 38 miles per gallon of gas by 2031. Repealing these rules would undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, which Trump has rejected.
Automakers and industry experts have expressed concerns that repealing these rules will put thousands of jobs at risk and undermine the US auto industry’s global competitiveness. The new rules need to be coordinated with other emissions regulations overseen by EPA and the Energy Department.
The repeal of fuel efficiency rules is a significant move that could impact the US automotive industry, the environment, and consumers. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how this decision will affect the country’s energy landscape and climate goals.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-mpg-fuel-economy-standards-automakers-0ef9147a0c3874a50a194e439f604261