With a Week to Go in Obama Administration, EPA Sets 2025 Fuel Economy Targets in Stone

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy has decided to maintain current emissions and fuel economy standards through 2025, cementing a central pillar of the Obama administration’s green legacy.

Many automakers have been critical of Obama’s rather strict climate policies and were hopeful that President-elect Donald Trump might roll back some of the more stringent regulations. Of the policies, none is more controversial than the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) mandate, which began a midterm review earlier this year.

While the EPA’s ultimate determination wasn’t due until April of 2018, choosing not to alter 2025 vehicle emission and CAFE rules effectively locks in the standard before Trump can take office.

McCarthy explained that her decision, which institutes a legal means to maintain the fuel efficiency rules, rests entirely on the facts.

“My decision today rests on the technical record created by over eight years of research, hundreds of published reports including an independent review by the National Academy of Sciences, hundreds of stakeholder meetings, and multiple opportunities for the public and the industry to provide input,” said McCarthy in her official statement.

“At every step in the process the analysis has shown that the greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks remain affordable and effective through 2025, and will save American drivers billions of dollars at the pump while protecting our health and the environment.”

The agency believes that the standards, which requires an average fleet-wide light vehicle fuel efficiency of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, will result in consumer EPA window stickers surpassing 36 mpg for passenger cars and light-trucks. That’s more than 10 mpg higher than the fleet averages of today. The mandatory improvement in economy is also estimated to diminish U.S. oil consumption by around 2.4 million barrels a day — a 10 percent reduction of America’s total petroleum consumption.

While environmentalist groups are chuffed to hear that the adjudication won’t be undone by the next POTUS, those in the automotive industry are less pleased to see the inflexible standards remain.

“The EPA decision is disappointing,” said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which had been urging the agency to reconsider. “Our fundamental priority remains striking the right balance to continue fuel economy gains and carbon reduction without compromising consumer affordability and vital auto-sector jobs.”