Fuel Efficiency Political Wrangling over CAFE Standard Increase

It appears as if various segments of the federalfor both cars and light trucks to 33 mpg, which
government are at odds with each othermost analysts agree would be the minimum
concerning an increase in the Corporate Averagenumber it would take to help America begin to
Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Even whileraise itself out of its current energy dilemma.
President Bush is asking congress for permissionMarkey told his colleagues that the fuel efficiency
to raise the standards, Transportation Secretaryof domestic vehicles actually peaked nearly
Norman Mineta is going around Capitol Hill warningtwenty years ago (in 1987, at 26.2 mpg), and
about what he sees as the potential dangersthen began to decrease. The current level is less
inherent in raising the standards. The CAFEthan 25 mpg.The squabbling on Capitol Hill comes
standards were put into place in 1975 in responsein the face of increased uncertainty about the
to the 1973 Arab oil embargo, requiring Americanworld's oil supply, which in turn seems to be
automobiles to average 27.5 mpg. Since that time,fueling a growing sense of urgency for the
American automakers have increased the fuelcreation of a new generation of more fuel
efficiency of their vehicles somewhat, butefficient vehicles. There's talk about offering
domestic cars and trucks still lag far behind theirfederal loan guarantees and grants to domestic
foreign competition. Also, a significant number ofautomakers and parts manufacturers to
America's 200 million vehicles still aren't subject toencourage development of automotive technology
the CAFE standards, since they're classified asthat would lead to more fuel efficient vehicles.
light trucks, including such vehicles as SUVs, vans,Innovations might include the use of lighter weight
and pickups.In a recent letter to congress,materials, electric/gasoline hybrid technology, and
Secretary Mineta suggested that raising the CAFEalternative fuels. The legislation would also
standards would increase the number of deathsencourage a greater availability of alternative fuels
due to traffic accidents, raise the cost ofat gas stations.In an attempt to break the federal
healthcare, and reduce American employment.gridlock, ten states (Connecticut, New Mexico,
President Bush prefers basing the CAFE standardsOregon, California, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island,
on vehicle size, which would set varying standardsNew Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York) have
for vehicles depending upon their dimensions.sued the federal government to force higher
Regardless of the political wrangling, it's been moreefficiency standards for gas-guzzling SUVs and
than thirty years since the CAFE standards werepickups. Leaders from 227 American cities have
implemented, and although fuel efficiency hasalso banded together to sign the "U.S. Mayors
improved, Americans are driving nearly 50Climate Protection Agreement," committing their
percent more, which means there's been little orcommunities to reducing greenhouse gas
no net savings of energy during that time.emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels by
Massachusetts Representative Edward Markeythe year 2012.
(D) recently proposed raising the CAFE standards