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Gas Guzzlers and Global Warming
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
One of our cases now in progress challenges the Bush administration's new fuel economy standards, i.e. MPG, for light trucks and SUVs for model years 2008-2011. The new standards are 22.5 MPG for 2008, 23.1 for 2009 and 23.5 for 2010......incredibly weak when you consider that motor vehicles are one of the primary causes of global warming pollution. When I dug into this case, I was amazed to find out how the MPG-setting process works. Basically, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) obtains future production plans from the car companies, then tweaks them by adding on additional pieces of fuel-efficiency equipment until the cost of the equipment outweighs the incremental benefit of the gasoline savings. In other words, NHTSA doesn't really challenge the automakers to innovate from scratch, they just put lipstick on the gas guzzlers. Making matters worse, the agency acknowledged that the reduction of greenhouse gases would be a huge benefit in the overall cost-benefit equation, but then assigned that benefit a $0 value because they claim it is too "uncertain." This case is being briefed right now and will go to the court in early 2007. We can do so much better - we should be getting at least 40 MPG out of our light trucks and SUVs.
posted by Pat Gallagher
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