The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this afternoon released joint standards to cut greenhouse gas emissions for cars and trucks. The new standards reflect the EPA's more central role in regulating fuel economy and curbing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 30 percent of which the agency estimates are transportation-related.

"We are launching -- for the first time in history -- a new national standard aimed at increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all cars and trucks sold in America," President Obama told employees at a General Motors assembly plant in Ohio today. "It creates an even playing field. It's an action that is long overdue. It will give our auto companies clarity and stability and predictability."

The announcement by EPA and NHTSA, who worked in consultation with private groups like the United Auto Workers and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, helps fill in details of Obama's announcement in May that the administration would raise fuel-efficiency standards nationwide.

The new regulations, which cover model years 2012 through 2016, include two coordinated standards. NHTSA is mandated by law to regulate and enforce the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFE) program, which is set at 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 (a goal Obama set in May). The EPA is also tasked with regulating greenhouse gas emissions standards in a "grams of carbon dioxide per mile" metric. According to the joint press release, "the collaboration of federal agencies for this proposal... allows for clearer rules for all automakers, instead of three standards" -- from the Transportation Department, the EPA and the various states.

The agencies estimate that the standards will help increase fuel economy by approximately 5 percent every year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 950 million metric tons. They also predict the tougher rules will help save the average car buyer $3,000 in fuel costs and conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil.

Click here for the EPA's Web site explaining the proposal and here for NHTSA's Web site.

More in Energy Go to section

October 04, 2010 | Energy and Environment Bulletin

Is Unpriced Carbon The Next Subprime?

September 02, 2010 | Energy and Environment Bulletin

Dems Seek Answers On Gulf Explosion

September 01, 2010 | Energy and Environment Bulletin

BP Spent Big On Advertising After Spill

August 24, 2010 | Tech Daily Dose

Biden: Stimulus Dollars Fueling Energy and Life-Saving Technology

August 17, 2010 | Insider Interviews

Deepwater Horizon's Enduring Lessons