March 31, 2020:
The Department of
Transportation and the
Environmental Protection
Agency announced
their final Safe Affordable
Fuel Efficient Vehicles Rule
( SAFE )
It replaces the
2012 Obama
CAFE rule.
The final rule
requires
1.5% annual
improvements
in average
fuel economy
through 2026.
A previously proposed
rule in 2018 would have
ended any required
improvements in 2021.
The 2012 Obama rule
had required 5%
annual improvements.
The agencies
claim the 2020
rule will reduce
vehicle costs
by $1,000
compared with
the 2012 rule.
Environmental
pressure groups,
and Democrats
in Congress,
were furious.
The National
Highway Safety
Transportation
Administration
estimate that
the new SAFE rule
will increase
atmospheric
concentrations
of carbon dioxide
by a few thousandths
of a part per million
-- far too small
to measure.
EPA Administrator
Andrew Wheeler
Tweeted:
“Too many reporters
fail to mention one
very important point:
The Obama era CAFE
standards were not
attainable by the
auto industry.
The truth is,
the new SAFE rule
sets realistic standards,
will reduce pollution,
and save lives!”