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Obama calls for emissions standards on medium- and heavy-duty trucks
June 2, 2010With an eye toward a new clean energy foundation, President Obama announced on May 21 a vision for cleaner, more efficient trucks and next-generation cars.
The president directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks for model years 2014-2018. The president also called for an extension of the national program for cars and light-duty trucks to model year 2017 and beyond.
Additionally, President Obama directed the Department of Energy to provide increased support for deployment of advanced vehicles, including electric vehicles, and directed EPA to reduce non-greenhouse-gas pollutants from motor vehicles. The administration will continue to work to diversify the fuel mix for advanced vehicles, including biofuels, natural gas and other cleaner sources of energy, Obama added.
“This will bring down costs for transporting goods, serving businesses and consumers alike. It will reduce pollution. And, just like the rule concerning cars, this standard will spur growth in the clean energy sector,” the president said. “We know how important that is. We know that our dependence on foreign oil endangers our security and our economy. We know that climate change poses a threat to our way of life. In fact, we are already beginning to see its profound and costly impact. And we know that our economic future depends on our leadership in the industries of the future.”
Following the president’s directive, and with the support of a wide array of stakeholders, including auto manufacturers, workers, the state of California, the environmental community and other states, EPA and DOT will develop forthcoming rulemaking proposals to achieve these goals.
The announcement builds upon the new national policy that Obama set in motion one year ago, increasing fuel economy standards and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for new cars and light-duty trucks manufactured in model years 2012-2016 and sold in the United States.
The policy was a collaboration between DOT, EPA, the world’s largest auto manufacturers, United Auto Workers, environmental community leaders, the state of California and other state governments.