White House fuel efficiency rules didn't go far enough
Lewis DiuguidThe Obama administration’s new rules on fuel economy for cars and light-duty trucks didn’t go far enough.
The new standards for 2025 seeks to boost fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon. That would jump from 35.5 mpg set for 2016.
But the new rules should have been 110 mpg by 2025. It is no less achievable than President John Kennedy insisting in the early 1960s that the United States land a man on the moon before the decade was out and get that person home safely.
It happened because the U.S. dared to aim high. This country has to have great expectations now and set the fuel economy standard high for the rest of the world. It is the only way our planet, sick with greenhouse gases from people burning fossil fuels, is to get better.
In addition, President Barack Obama should lower the speed limit on highways to 55 mph, following in the shoes of President Richard Nixon. The horsepower in cars and trucks also should come down to make better mileage possible.
Kent Mueller
8 months, 3 weeks agoHow about letting Congress enacting legislation as sought by the people, rather than an executive branch continually usurping the powers of the legislative branch?
Mark Hastert
8 months, 3 weeks ago“How about letting Congress enacting legislation”
THIS congress Kent? the least productive congress since Truman coined the phrase do-nothing? Congress is where ideas go to die. Until both sides realize that any good idea can be made better through collegial cooperation we’re doomed to perpetual stalemate. The rules in both houses are written to allow the out party (even individual Senators) to wage rear guard actions bringing governance to a total halt. It’s all about getting power, keeping it, and denying it to you enemies; except their not supposed to be enemies.
We may always differ. I believe in effect efficient governance where it’s needed; conservatives in less governance, some among the Teas and OWS no governance at all but we ought to all insist that the congress not be a dead end.
Kent Mueller
8 months, 3 weeks agoMark, Congress has been a problem, but that does not call for the Executive Branch to usurp powers and authority it does not have.
And please, don’t include the Tea Party with the OWS crowd when you say there are those who want no governance. I have never seen an instance of even some rogue person at a Tea Party event propose anarchy, while it is a noticeable part of the OWS crowd.
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 3 weeks agoNo lewis… Dammit, we need better fuel economy. I think the big 0’s EPA should decree 2,347 MPG or people cannot drive the vehicle.
We have to stop messing around and jimmy II’s EPA is the perfect agency to lead the charge to total economic collapse with its bureaucratic rule making. After all, overpaid govt. bureaucrats “know” what’s achievable and “know” that private enterprise, aka BIG OIL, is just holding-back on technology to achieve the 2,347 MPG.
Go jimmy II, you’re doing a great job of leading the economy back–oops.
Kent Mueller
8 months, 3 weeks agoLewis, how do you account for the findings of the National Academy of Science regarding the increased traffic deaths for which the NAS says is caused by increasing CAFE requirements?
An integral part of increasing mileage is reducing the weight of the car. The lighter the car, them more dangerous it becomes. The National Academy of Science estimates increased CAFE requirements has been causing between 1,300 and 2,600 additional traffic deaths each year. Add all the years, and that is a staggering number.
Is that a reasonable trade-off for higher mileage?
Mark Hastert
8 months, 3 weeks agoListen, we already have cars that exceed 50 MPG that sell as fast as they can be built. The Prius is a comfortable four passenger car. The Volt is awesome in both appearance and in performance! Nearly every auto manufacturer has at least one car that gets 40MPG Hwy. It’s just not going to be that hard. Even if they fall short we will have exceeded all expectations. The world economies are expanding. If India and China continue to grow at their present rate the number of cars and need for the energy to run them will grow exponentially. US industry can reap the benefits of that opportunity or watch others pass us by.
Kent, in answer to your question: just one word Benjamin…….carbon fiber. (ok, that’s twol but I couldn’t resist)