THE GAS REGULATIONS WE PASS. A federal judge in Vermont ruled against the auto industry today, upholding states' rights to set tougher fuel economy standards than the federal government. Automakers have attempted to block California, Vermont, and 13 other states from instating new efficiency requirements that would require vehicles to get at least 43 miles per gallon by 2016. From the Detriot Free Press:
In his ruling, Vermont U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions found that the industry had failed to prove either it could not meet the standards, that they would endanger drivers, or that Congress had forbidden states from setting their own fuel economy rules.
"In light of the public statements of industry representatives, history of compliance with previous technological challenges, and the state of the record, the Court remains unconvinced automakers cannot meet the challenges of Vermont and California's GHG (greenhouse gas) regulations," Sessions wrote in his opinion.
Meanwhile, on the federal level, though the Senate adopted legislation in June to increase CAFE standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the measure was dropped from the House energy bill, and federal requirements have remained at 27.5 mpg since 1989. Democrats are gearing up for what will likely be a party-splitting battle over the energy bill this fall, one that can end in either groundbreaking legislation to curb both global warming and energy dependence, or toothless legislation that bows to pressure from the auto industry.
--Kate Sheppard
