Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy
BREAKING: Senators reach compromise on 35 mpg standard, but not everything is gravy
With all the compromise and hints coming out of Washington this week, it's been a challenge just keeping up with who's for what and what's good for whom. But, it looks like this afternoon our illustrious Senators have found one more compromise in their bones and have agreed to raise the CAFE standard for passenger vehicles to 35 mpg by 2020. Scrapped into dust as debate over the energy bill moved forward were a continued four percent annual increase from 35 mpg after 2020 and $29 billion in new taxes on oil companies to fund renewable energy research and development. The compromise does require automakers to make half their vehicles E85-capable by 2015. Many have already agreed to do this by 2012, so that's not a big deal.
Now we'll see what the House will do.
CNN and the AP have more. What do you think of this? Will it survive into the final bill? What about the President's veto pen (he said he was against specific mileage numbers)? Is 35 mpg a good number for CAFE standards in 2020?
[Source: CNN and AP, h/t to Chris P]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris 9:47PM (6/21/2007)
Without specific mpg standards, what's the point? And 35mpg could be accomplished sooner. I would've gone for 2015.
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PeakVT 11:34PM (6/21/2007)
It's lame but its better than nothing. And if Bush vetos it then it will become another albatross around Republicans' necks in 2008.
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art vatsky 12:15AM (6/22/2007)
I am afraid this agreement is not a win for the general public or the environment. These limits will be met much sooner than 2020 because market forces will require them to be met. Hurricanes, political instability, refinery problems will be the driving forces.
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Altarian1 6:48AM (6/22/2007)
Batter Safe than Sorry. Nanosafe that is! An Altairnative.com idea.
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BGJ 7:13AM (6/22/2007)
How shocking! Rebuplicans prevented adding the tax on oil companies to fund renewable energy research. How about instead of adding a tax, we just stop giving billions of dollars to the oil companies in subsidies? Last I checked oil companies were doing "ok". By "ok" I mean raking in the most profit of all time in human history.
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Dan LaMee 8:35AM (6/22/2007)
I agree with Art... And one step further, I think the domestic automakers have been digging their own grave with all these new incredibly large or just plain inefficient cars/SUVs. I do feel bad about the workers in general though, I don't want anyone to lose his or her job. However, I'm wondering if the unions have been vocal in trying to get the automakers to change their offerings? If not, then well, I don't feel bad about the union workers either.
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Tim 8:50AM (6/22/2007)
Altarian1- Dr. Bart Riley, co-founder, VP of R&D and CTO of A123 Systems stated in an interview with gm-volt.com that A123’s design has “significantly” higher energy density, twice the voltage and half the weight per cell when compared with the Altair Nano design. http://www.gm-volt.com/ Nothing was mentioned regarding A123s fast-charge capabilities.
Politicians (and lawyers) betray their own integrity every time they “compromise” and that's why nobody really trusts them. If a half-truth is the blackest of lies because it can be partially defended, where does that leave half-integrity?
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Tim 8:53AM (6/22/2007)
Ron Paul is the ONLY politician that NEVER compromises. Best of all, he's not a damn lawyer.
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gsolman6 11:30AM (6/22/2007)
I wouldn't worry about a presidential veto since it passed the senate 65-27.
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P.Fezziwig 3:53PM (8/01/2007)
The hard part is over, the House is controlled by democrats and Pelosi already voiced support for it, look for it to pass this August. Looks like another embarrasing reason to vote for a Democratic predident, Bush sure has made it difficult for the Republican canadites.
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Staff, Green Cars Now, http://www.GreenCarsNow.com
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Rob redman 9:58AM (4/23/2008)
Fuel Efficient 1978-1981 Cars
Year Manufacturer Model Trans City Highway
1981 DODGE OMNI M4 30 50
1981 PLYMOUTH HORIZON M4 30 50
1981 DODGE DE TOMASO M4 30 50
1981 PLYMOUTH TC3/TURIS M4 30 50
1981 FORD ESCORT M4 28 44
1981 LINCOLN LYNX M4 28 44
1981 FORD ESCORT WAGO M4 27 42
1981 LINCOLN LYNX WAG M4 27 42
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