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U.S. to raise fuel efficiency standards on larger trucks U.S. to raise fuel efficiency standards on larger trucks
(35 minutes later)
President Obama announced Tuesday that the federal government will further tighten fuel efficiency for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, part of his ongoing effort to use executive authority to address climate change and spur domestic manufacturing. President Obama announced Tuesday that the federal government will further tighten fuel efficiency for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, part of his ongoing effort to use executive authority to address climate change and spur domestic manufacturing.
Speaking at the Safeway distribution center in Upper Marlboro, Md., Obama did not specify what new standard the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation should set for these larger trucks, which weigh more than 8,500 pounds. but he said he was confident manufacturers could meet this “ambitious” goal. Speaking at the Safeway distribution center in Upper Marlboro, Md., Obama did not specify what new standard the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation should set for these larger trucks, which weigh more than 8,500 pounds, but he said he was confident manufacturers could meet this “ambitious” goal.
“Don’t make small plans; make big plans,” the president said, standing before a crowd of roughly 275 people that included environmental leaders as well as trucking industry officials. “And anybody who had dire predictions for the auto industry, said we couldn’t do it, manufacturers couldn’t bring jobs back to America -- every time they say that they’re proven wrong. Every time somebody says you can’t grow the economy while bringing down pollution, it’s turned out they’ve been wrong.” “Don’t make small plans; make big plans,” the president said, standing before a crowd of roughly 275 people that included environmental leaders as well as trucking industry officials. “And anybody who had dire predictions for the auto industry, said we couldn’t do it, manufacturers couldn’t bring jobs back to America — every time they say that, they’re proven wrong. Every time somebody says you can’t grow the economy while bringing down pollution, it’s turned out they’ve been wrong.”
This marks the second time Obama has mandated a cut in fuel consumption and carbon emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, a category that ranges from large pick-up trucks and school buses to 18-wheel tractor-trailers. This marks the second time Obama has mandated a cut in fuel consumption and carbon emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, a category that ranges from large pickup trucks and school buses to 18-wheel tractor-trailers.
An earlier rule, finalized in September 2011, improved the fleet’s fuel efficiency by between 9 percent and 23 percent, with the largest trucks showing the largest improvements. The Obama administration estimates that those standards, which applied to the model years 2014 through 2018, cost the industry $8 billion but would save truck users $50 billion in fuel costs over the lifetimes of the vehicles.An earlier rule, finalized in September 2011, improved the fleet’s fuel efficiency by between 9 percent and 23 percent, with the largest trucks showing the largest improvements. The Obama administration estimates that those standards, which applied to the model years 2014 through 2018, cost the industry $8 billion but would save truck users $50 billion in fuel costs over the lifetimes of the vehicles.
The new greenhouse gas standards will become final by March 2016, Obama said, and would apply to subsequent model years.The new greenhouse gas standards will become final by March 2016, Obama said, and would apply to subsequent model years.
Unlike some of the president’s greenhouse gas proposals, which have prompted a backlash from the affected industries, many truck suppliers have embraced the idea of reducing carbon emissions.Unlike some of the president’s greenhouse gas proposals, which have prompted a backlash from the affected industries, many truck suppliers have embraced the idea of reducing carbon emissions.
American Trucking Associations president Bill Graves said in a statement that his industry was prepared to meet the president’s challenge and that he hoped the rule would be “both based on the best science and research available and economically achievable.” The American Trucking Associations’ chairman, Phil Byrd, said in an interview that he had spoken to engine manufacturers and that “they are very upbeat” about their ability to make additional improvements in fuel efficiency. He noted that his members are hoping they can recoup the costs on any such investment within 18 months and that they want to make sure any new technology is reliable so their trucks won’t be idled.
“Fuel is one of our industry’s largest expenses, so it makes sense that as an industry we would support proposals to use less of it,” Graves said. “However, we should make sure that new rules don’t conflict with safety or other environmental regulations, nor should they force specific types of technology onto the market before they are fully tested and ready.” “We have to ensure our members are protected and this technology is ready for the marketplace,” Byrd said, noting that after the first round of efficiency improvements, “many fleets experienced a loss in productivity with that new equipment that was not reliable.”
S. William Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, wrote in an e-mail: “The juxtaposition between the positions of the motor vehicle and power sectors on the president’s climate action plan is startling. While truck manufacturers are lining up behind the plan pledging their support and cooperation, most of the power plant industry is fighting it tooth and nail.” Byrd, who met with Obama before the speech, described the president as “very gracious.” “He assured us we would continue have a voice in this process,” Byrd said.
In 2011, transportation accounted for about 28 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, second only to the electricity sector. Heavy-duty vehicles are a major opportunity to cut transportation oil use and carbon pollution. S. William Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, said in an e-mail that “the juxtaposition between the positions of the motor vehicle and power sectors on the president’s climate action plan is startling.” He wrote, “While truck manufacturers are lining up behind the plan pledging their support and cooperation, most of the power plant industry is fighting it tooth and nail.”
In 2010, heavy-duty vehicles represented just four percent of registered vehicles on the road in the United States, but they accounted for roughly one-quarter of the transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions within transportation, after cars and light trucks. In 2011, transportation accounted for about 28 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, second only to the electricity sector. Heavy-duty vehicles offer a major opportunity to cut transportation oil use and carbon pollution.
The president--who stood in front of a large truck that had improved its fuel economy by 75 percent over the last year--said he announced the proposal at Safeway because the company has invested in more efficient trucks and trailers. “That’s why we call this ‘SuperTruck,’” he said, prompting laughter from the crowd. In 2010, heavy-duty vehicles represented just 4 percent of registered vehicles on the road in the United States, but they accounted for roughly one-quarter of the transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions within transportation, after cars and light trucks.
The president, who stood in front of a large truck that had improved its fuel economy by 75 percent over the last year, said he announced the proposal at Safeway because the company has invested in more efficient trucks and trailers. “That’s why we call this ‘SuperTruck,’ ” he said, prompting laughter from the crowd.
He added that the administration was offering new tax credits to manufacturers of heavy-duty, alternative-fuel vehicles and to firms that build fuel infrastructure for biodiesel, natural gas and hybrid electric vehicles in order to make sure the new efficiency goals could be realized.He added that the administration was offering new tax credits to manufacturers of heavy-duty, alternative-fuel vehicles and to firms that build fuel infrastructure for biodiesel, natural gas and hybrid electric vehicles in order to make sure the new efficiency goals could be realized.
“What the president plans is a classic example of using executive power to make further reductions in greenhouse gases from one of the most notorious emission sources,” Frank O’Donnell, president of the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, wrote in an e-mail.“What the president plans is a classic example of using executive power to make further reductions in greenhouse gases from one of the most notorious emission sources,” Frank O’Donnell, president of the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, wrote in an e-mail.