| It appears as if various segments of the federal | | | | for both cars and light trucks to 33 mpg, which |
| government are at odds with each other | | | | most analysts agree would be the minimum |
| concerning an increase in the Corporate Average | | | | number it would take to help America begin to |
| Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Even while | | | | raise itself out of its current energy dilemma. |
| President Bush is asking congress for permission | | | | Markey told his colleagues that the fuel efficiency |
| to raise the standards, Transportation Secretary | | | | of domestic vehicles actually peaked nearly |
| Norman Mineta is going around Capitol Hill warning | | | | twenty years ago (in 1987, at 26.2 mpg), and |
| about what he sees as the potential dangers | | | | then began to decrease. The current level is less |
| inherent in raising the standards. The CAFE | | | | than 25 mpg.The squabbling on Capitol Hill comes |
| standards were put into place in 1975 in response | | | | in the face of increased uncertainty about the |
| to the 1973 Arab oil embargo, requiring American | | | | world'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 fuel | | | | creation of a new generation of more fuel |
| efficiency of their vehicles somewhat, but | | | | efficient vehicles. There's talk about offering |
| domestic cars and trucks still lag far behind their | | | | federal loan guarantees and grants to domestic |
| foreign competition. Also, a significant number of | | | | automakers and parts manufacturers to |
| America's 200 million vehicles still aren't subject to | | | | encourage development of automotive technology |
| the CAFE standards, since they're classified as | | | | that 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 CAFE | | | | alternative fuels. The legislation would also |
| standards would increase the number of deaths | | | | encourage a greater availability of alternative fuels |
| due to traffic accidents, raise the cost of | | | | at 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 standards | | | | Oregon, California, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, |
| on vehicle size, which would set varying standards | | | | New 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 more | | | | efficiency standards for gas-guzzling SUVs and |
| than thirty years since the CAFE standards were | | | | pickups. Leaders from 227 American cities have |
| implemented, and although fuel efficiency has | | | | also banded together to sign the "U.S. Mayors |
| improved, Americans are driving nearly 50 | | | | Climate Protection Agreement," committing their |
| percent more, which means there's been little or | | | | communities to reducing greenhouse gas |
| no net savings of energy during that time. | | | | emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels by |
| Massachusetts Representative Edward Markey | | | | the year 2012. |
| (D) recently proposed raising the CAFE standards | | | | |