Obama Signs Order for EPA to Allow Stricter Auto Emissions Rules
President Obama Monday signed an order directing the Environmental Protection Agency approve a waiver for California and 13 other states to set stricter automobile emission and boost fuel efficiency standards.
The Bush administration had denied California a waiver to begin a state program intended to cut gases tied to global warming by 30% by 2016, Bloomberg reported. Obama pledged during his campaign to reverse that decision.
Big Three U.S. automakers General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC and companies represented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers trade group sued to block California’s rules, arguing that developing vehicles that comply would cost billions, Bloomberg said.
Obama’s memorandum orders EPA to reconsider the Bush administration’s past rejection of the California application, the New York Times reported Monday in a front-page story.
The action would likely force auto manufacturers to quickly retool to begin producing cars and light trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, and on a faster phase-in schedule, the Times said.
