New vehicle rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions spark debate

Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate-change policy, makes a forceful case for the need to slash greenhouse-gas emissions and boost the efficiency of cars and small trucks: The moves will cut America’s oil consumption, foster the nation’s energy independence, save consumers money at the pump and help revive domestic auto manufacturers.

What she doesn’t volunteer is that they will curb climate change.

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The Obama administration is crafting two regulations — one targeting passenger vehicles, the other focused on heavier trucks and buses — that would do more to cut global-warming pollution than any other policy in the president’s time in office.

But that fact is barely mentioned as officials negotiate with automakers, environmentalists and others, particularly about the contentious car and light-truck rule due out in September.

“This rule fits very well within the broader framework of what we’re trying to do to make sure we have a healthy, robust domestic auto industry,” Zichal said of the proposed fuel-efficiency requirements.

Has the administration given up on climate change since legislation died in the Senate last year, as some advocates allege? Or has it simply rebranded the idea and its goals, as others complain?

Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute, said the administration runs a risk when it minimizes global warming’s public profile.

“I don’t blame the president for the failure of climate legislation, but I do hold him accountable for allowing opponents to fill the void with misinformation and outright lies about climate change,” he said. “By excising ‘climate change’ from his vocabulary, the president has surrendered the power that only he has to explain challenging issues and advance complex solutions for our country.”

With potentially dramatic fuel-use requirements coming to the car and truck worlds in particular, the issue has returned to prominence — however it may be defined.

Just last week, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told U.S automakers that the administration is considering requiring cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025. But automakers and conservative politicians are facing off against environmentalists over what mileage passenger vehicles can achieve.

Many of those carmakers, along with their congressional and gubernatorial allies, have cautioned that the administration could be pushing too aggressively for stricter fuel standards. On Wednesday, 14 GOP governors and one Democratic governor wrote top Obama officials to tell them that they need to take several factors into consideration when setting emission limits, including Americans’ need for large cars and trucks that can accommodate a variety of cargo, including skis, farm equipment and children’s car seats.

“If fuel economy standards increase too quickly, resulting in more expensive vehicles, consumers can be expected to hold on to their older vehicles longer and defer buying a new car, which could put auto jobs across the country at risk and delay compliance with federal air standards,” the governors wrote.