Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

It's official

By Catharine Richert April 5, 2010

In May 2009, President Barack Obama announced that he was going to increase car and truck fuel economy.

Nearly a year later, the new standard has officially been put on the books.

On the campaign trail, Obama said he would boost vehicle efficiency by 4 percent annually. But in May of last year, he said fuel efficiency will increase by an average of 5 percent a year.

The joint rule between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized April 1, 2010 will require cars and light trucks combined to get an average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, moving up a 2007 law that required the same efficiency by 2020. The mandate applies to all new autos made between 2012 and 2016.

According to the administration, the effort will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program and cut carbon emissions by about 960 million metric tons over the lifetime of the vehicles.

The effort was hailed by environmental organizations.

"These standards deliver a trifecta of benefits to Americans: less dependence on Middle Eastern oil, less pollution, and more savings at the gas pump," said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp.

Natural Resources Defense Council president Frances Beinecke wrote on the organization's blog that the standards are "precisely the kind of clean energy solution we need right now."

Last May, we did not move Obama's pledge to Promise Kept because a lot can change between the time the government proposes a rule and when it actually puts the rule on the books. But now that it's official -- and because he's exceeding his original promise -- we can move this promise to Promise Kept.

Editor's Note: Originally, Obama's promise to raise fuel economy standards was paired with a promise to give $50 billion to car manufacturing companies to retool their production facilities. Because the two promises have little to do with each other, we've separated them. We'll keep you updated on Obama's other promise.

Our Sources

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT, EPA Set Aggressive National Standards for Fuel Economy and First Ever Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels For Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, April 1, 2010

The Washington Post, White House mandates new fuel efficiency standards, by Juliet Eilperin, April 1, 2010

The Detroit Free Press, U.S. unveils 35.5-m.p.g. rule by '16, by Justin Hyde, April 1, 2010

The White House, President Obama Announces National Fuel Efficiency Policy, May 19, 2009

Environmental Defense Fund, EPA Adopts First National Greenhouse Gas Pollution Standards in U.S. History, April 1, 2010

Natural Resources Defense Council, EPA's New Clean Car Standards: The Right Kind of Energy Solution, by Frances Beinecke, April 1, 2010

E-mail Interview, Pamela Campos, attorney, Environmental Defense Fund