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Also calls on Trump to provide a timeline for engaging stakeholders, state officials, labor, and other experts before releasing proposal to weaken fuel economy
Washington (May 10, 2018) – As President Trump prepares to meet with a group of auto company CEOs tomorrow at the White House, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) called on the automakers to keep the promise they made in 2011 to support the historic fuel economy emissions standards that they negotiated. In 2012, an historic agreement between the auto manufacturers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the state of California was reached to increase fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards above 50 mpg by 2025. Just this week, Mitch Bainwol, President of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade organization representing all auto manufacturers, said before Congress that, “automakers have urged the Trump administration to find a solution that continues to: (1) increase fuel efficiency standards year-over-year and (2) incorporate California to ensure that ‘One National Program’ is maintained.”
“It is imperative that the auto industry speak out against the Trump administration’s attempt to roll back these standards and stand by their agreements made in 2011,” writes Senator Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “These vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards save consumers money at the pump, protect the climate, promote community health, and support national security interests by decreasing national demand for oil imports.”
A copy of Senator Markey’s letter to the auto companies can be found HERE. Auto companies receiving the letter include General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US, Ford Motor Company, American Honda Motor Company, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Volvo Car Group, Mitsubishi Motors of North America, BMW of North America, Subaru of America, Mazda North America, Jaguar Land Rover North America, Nissan North America, Hyundai Motor America, and Kia Motors America.
Senator Markey also called on President Trump to hold real and productive negotiations with the automakers, the 13 states and D.C. that have adopted strong state-level vehicle emissions standards, consumer advocacy groups, labor, and other experts before moving forward with releasing any proposal that would weaken the current standards. According to the California Air Resources Board, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has not met with anyone from CARB, and the EPA has only had three “nonsubstantive” meetings with CARB officials.
“If you advance this proposal without engaging in inclusive negotiations, you risk litigation that would create chaos and uncertainty for manufacturers and consumers, as well as risk losing the many benefits of strong fuel economy standards: reduced carbon pollution, money saved at the gas pump, and the security benefits from limiting our dependence on imported foreign oil,” writes Senator Markey in his letter to President Trump.
A copy of Senator Markey’s letter to President Trump can be found HERE.
The Obama administration’s historic 54.5 mpg standard was partially enabled by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which included fuel economy standards co-authored by Senator Markey when he was in the House of Representatives.
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