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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 sepTember 2019

Continued from Front dress the money consum- cratic President Barack
U.S. automakers contend ers would save at the gas Obama took office — the
that without year-over-year pump if cars got better feds granted California's re-
increases in fuel efficiency mileage. A study released quest.
that align with global mar- by Consumer Reports in Au- California has 35 million
ket realities their vehicles gust found that the owner registered vehicles, the
could be less competitive, of a 2026 vehicle will pay most of any state. A dozen
potentially resulting in job over $3,300 more for gaso- other states and the District
losses. However, most of line during the life of a ve- of Columbia also follow
the industry favors increas- hicle if the standards are California's fuel economy
es in standards that are frozen at 2021 levels. standards.
less than the Obama-era Trump's claim that his pro- California Attorney Gen-
requirements, saying their posal would result in a eral Xavier Becerra said
consumers are gravitating cleaner environment is the Trump administration's
to SUVs and trucks rather contrary to his own admin- action will hurt both U.S.
than buying more efficient istration's estimate that by automakers and American
cars. freezing economy stan- families. He said California The headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency is
Top California officials and dards U.S. fuel consumption would fight the administra- seen in Washington as President Donald Trump announces that
environmental groups would increase by about tion in federal court. his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto
pledged legal action on 500,000 barrels per day, "You have no basis and no mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regu-
Wednesday to stop the roll- a 2% to 3% increase. Envi- authority to pull this waiver," lators, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Critics say the move would
result in less fuel efficient cars that create more planet-warming
back, potentially tying up ronmental groups predict Becerra, a Democrat, said pollution.
the issue for years in federal even more fuel consumed, in a statement, referring to Associated Press
courts. The U.S. transporta- resulting in higher pollution. Trump.
tion sector is the nation's The administration argues "We're ready to fight for a er, a former fossil fuels lob- a weekend drone attack
biggest single source of that lower-cost vehicles future that you seem un- byist, said California will be that hobbled Saudi Arabi-
greenhouse gasses. would allow more peo- able to comprehend." able to keep in place and an oil output.
"You can't get serious ple to buy new ones that Trump's Justice Depart- enforce programs to ad- "If the courts allow this un-
about climate change un- are safer, cutting road- ment recently opened an dress smog and other forms precedented reversal, and
less you are serious about way deaths by 12,700 lives antitrust investigation into of air pollution caused by the Trump EPA massively
vehicle emissions, said Cali- through the 2029 model a deal between California motor vehicles. But fuel rolls back the federal clean
fornia Gov. Gavin Newsom, year. But The Associated and four major automakers economy has been one of car standards, then Presi-
a Democrat. "This is such a Press reported last year for tougher pollution and the key regulatory tools the dent Trump will have done
pivotal moment in the his- that internal EPA emails related mileage require- state has used to reduce more to destroy the planet
tory of the climate change show senior career officials ments than those sought by harmful emissions. than any other president
debate." privately questioned the the Trump administration. Environmentalists and in history," said Jeff Alson,
It's not clear yet what the administration's calcula- The deal struck in July be- former EPA officials con- a former EPA senior envi-
Trump administration will tions, saying the proposed tween California and four demned the Trump ad- ronmental engineer and
propose as its final fuel- freeze would actually mod- of the world's largest au- ministration's move, which policy adviser who recently
efficiency rules, but in the estly increase highway fa- tomakers — Ford, Honda, comes as gasoline prices retired after 40 years at the
past it has favored freezing talities, by about 17 deaths BMW and Volkswagen — have crept higher following agency.q
Obama-era mileage stan- annually. bypassed the Trump ad-
dards at 2021 levels. Under Trump traveled to California ministration's plan to freeze
the Obama administration for GOP fundraising events emissions and fuel econo-
requirements, the fleet of Tuesday and Wednesday my standards adopted un-
new vehicles would have near San Francisco, Los An- der Obama at 2021 levels.
to average 30 mpg in real- geles and San Diego. The four automakers
world driving by 2021, rising California's authority to set agreed with California to
to 36 mpg in 2025. Currently its own, tougher emissions reduce emissions by 3.7%
the standard is 26 mpg. standards goes back to per year starting with the
Under Trump, the Environ- a waiver issued by Con- 2022 model year, through
mental Protection Agency gress during passage of 2026. That compares with
contends that freezing the Clean Air Act in 1970. 4.7% yearly reductions
the fuel economy stan- In 2007, when Republican through 2025 under the
dards will reduce the av- Arnold Schwarzenegger Obama standards. Emis-
erage sticker price of new was governor, President sions standards are closely
vehicles by about $2,700 George W. Bush's adminis- linked with fuel economy
by 2025, though that pre- tration denied California's requirements because ve-
dicted savings is disputed bid to place first-in-the-na- hicles pollute less if they
by environmental groups tion greenhouse gas limits burn fewer gallons of fuel.
and is more than double on cars and trucks. But the In a speech to the National
the EPA estimates from the state asked the EPA to re- Automobile Dealers Associ-
prior administration. consider its decision, and ation on Tuesday, EPA Ad-
Trump's tweet does not ad- in 2009 — when Demo- ministrator Andrew Wheel-