Fuel economy standards at risk  

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released a proposal to significantly weaken fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks. These standards, which first went into effect in the face of the 1970s energy crisis, have resulted in significant consumer savings at the pump and reductions in transportation pollution that benefit public health and the environment. 

Under the new proposal, the miles per gallon requirements for model year 2031 fleets are higher than what EPA projects the automotive industry is already achieving today. 

Carroll Courtenay, a senior attorney in SELC’s Land and Community program, released the following statement: 

“The United States should be a leader in fuel economy, but instead we’re moving backwards. Strong fuel economy standards benefit everyone—from national security interests all the way down to individual pocketbooks—by increasing energy efficiency and energy independence and decreasing transportation pollution. We shouldn’t be walking back the progress we’ve made or discounting the benefits strong standards bring to communities around the country.”