EPA backs fuel economy target, but now it faces Trump
The Environmental Protection Agency left stricter automotive fuel economy regulations in place for 2022 to 2025, drawing criticism from the automotive industry and praise from environmental groups.
But the real test may come when the incoming Trump Administration decides whether to reduce the standards in keeping with its pledge to reduce government regulation. Trump's nominee for EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, is the attorney general in the oil-rich state of Oklahoma who has stood up to the EPA in the past.
The EPA has been accused of moving too fast in an effort to get the current regulations locked into place before President Obama leaves office on Jan. 20.
The EPA said Friday that it is leaving its standards in place because no change is necessary. The automotive industry, which is deep into electrification and other gas-saving technologies, has demonstrated it is able to adapt.
The decision drew opposition from one powerful automotive industry trade group, saying it fears that tougher standards will force automakers to raise prices on new cars.
"The EPA decision is disappointing. Our fundamental priority remains striking the right balance to continue fuel economy gains and carbon reduction without compromising consumer affordability and vital auto-sector jobs," said Gloria Bergquist, spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry trade group.
Industry groups began signaling Friday that they hope a new EPA administrator will rescind the decision and resume the evaluation process while environmental groups praised the EPA's actions and vowed to aggressively fight any possible changes.
"The Obama administration today just made new cars and trucks thousands of dollars more expensive for America’s working men and women," the National Automobile Dealers Association said in a statement. "We urge the incoming Trump administration to withdraw today’s action."
But the agency's decision, just days before President Barack Obama leaves office, makes it difficult, but not impossible, for the incoming administration to make changes.
"We believe a whole new rule-making process would need to occur in order to overrule this decision," a process that could easily take two years, said Andrew Linhardt, associate director for federal policy for the Sierra Club.