Lawmaker is principal House author of the first mandated increase in fuel economy standards since 1975
 
WASHINGTON (July 27, 2011) – With gas prices on the rise, today the White House, with support of the auto industry, announced new fuel economy standard of 54.5 mpg for Model Year 2025. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee welcomed the announcement of the new standards from President Obama. Rep. Markey has spent over two decades aggressively pushing for an increase in fuel economy standards and is co-author of the original fuel efficiency standard adopted by Congress in 2007, which in conjunction with the Supreme Court's decision in Massachusetts v EPA, initiated today’s announcement by requiring the maximum feasible fuel economy standards to be set each year.
 
“These new fuel efficiency standards represent the single greatest step our country has taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and to encourage a new generation of advanced vehicle technology entrepreneurs.  Because of these ambitious standards, for the next decade and a half consumers will pay less to go farther on every tank of gas in the new cars and trucks they choose, cutting oil imports and pollution along the way. I commend the Obama Administration for its leadership in reaching this historic agreement.”
 
Earlier today, Rep. Markey joined Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) in a letter sent to President Obama urging him to establish carbon pollution and fuel efficiency standards for vehicles sold in model years 2017-2025 that maximize consumer savings, reductions in carbon pollution, and energy independence.
 
A copy of the letter can be found HERE .
 
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