Source: The EPA’s fuel economy rollback has a bizarre justification - Vox The Environmental Protection Agency is starting to roll back one of the most important policies for limiting climate change of the Obama era. The agency is also picking a fight with states that want tougher car emission rules, setting itself up for a knock-down, drag-out legal fight. The proposal, released Thursday morning by the EPA and the US Department of Transportation, would ramp up fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks until 2021 and then freeze them. The change would also revoke California’s waiver to set its own rules under the Clean Air Act, rules that 13 other states and the District of Columbia also follow. . . . Rule changes are advertised in the Federal Register where anyone can post a comment which look to be open until October. Submitting a comment doesn't mean the rule will be stopped but sending a copy to your Congress critters or meeting them face-to-face would help. So read the proposed rules and then craft your reply. In my case, it will cite recent papers on fires, droughts, and floods due to climate change. I'll also include an economic argument that letting foreign countries lead the mileage race will eviscerate USA exports of cars and trucks. I will also point out that efficient military vehicles reduces how many supply convoys bringing in fuel. Bob Wilson
The ridiculous excuse they came up with will certainly help the "green" cause when it comes to a court fight, which it most certainly will. Why don't they just state they want to roll back the standards because higher CAFE standards will make American cars more expensive, and thus harder for the average working American to afford? At least that would be a defensible argument, even if it has some rather gaping holes (such as making American cars less competitive on the world market). It's really depressing how so much of what the current administration does is based on ignoring reality in favor of wishful thinking and outright lies. And not even plausible lies; obvious lies! ...like this one. Sadly, millions of "Make America Great Again" believers lap those lies up as if they're honey.
