Posted on 12/18/2007 12:20:56 PM PST by Zakeet
WASHINGTON - Congress by a wide margin approved the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years Tuesday, and President Bush plans to quickly sign the legislation, accepting the mandates on the auto industry.
The energy bill, boosting mileage by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon, passed the House 314-100 and now goes to the White House, following the Senate's approved last week.
In a statement, the White House said Bush will sign the legislation at the Energy Department on Wednesday.
In a dramatic shift to spur increased demand for nonfossil fuels, the bill also requires a six-fold increase in ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, a boon to farmers. And it requires new energy efficiency standards for an array of appliances, lighting and commercial and government buildings.
"This is a choice between yesterday and tomorrow" on energy policy, declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was closely involved in crafting the legislation. "It's groundbreaking in what it will do."
While some GOP lawmakers criticized the bill for failing to address the need for more domestic oil and natural gas production, 95 GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in support of the bill.
"This legislation is a historic turning point in energy policy," said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland because it will cut demand for foreign oil and promote nonfossil fuels that will cut
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Once I buy my 60mpg Honda Accord diesel in 2009, I’ll be ahead of the curve for this standard.
Look for a proliferation of clean diesels in the coming years, I reckon.
TRANSLATION: “Die, peons, in your tiny little cars!”
This whole thing is doomed to failure. I see massive non-compliance.
Ethanol madness again!.......Why don’t we just pass a bill mandating 100 MPG and get it done with?..............(Do I really need /s?)....
After all, Jimmy Carter’s enegy policies in the 1970’s worked so well. Why not try them again?
Ethanol based fuels get WORSE mileage than gasoline. Are worse for your engine, and are worse for the environment.
This is a great way to drive the Big3 makers further in the tank.
I agree. This bill will lead to boondoggles without solving any problems. The only good news in the bill is that two additional terrible provisions were omitted: nation-wide mandates for renewable energy and tax increases on oil and natural gas development.
The Saudi Royal Family is against CAFE Standards.
jeep just recently came out with a new cleaner diesel. i wish they’d put it in the commander and the wrangler, not just in the grand cherokee.
Meanwhile, the UN is crying for more food production for the world. Maybe they can get the Arab's to grow them something to eat :)
Nice language! Do you post on DU often?
Actually, my E-85 flexifuel pickup truck gets just about 100mpg of gasoline.
Let’s compare two vehicles: a V6 mini van that gets 24 hwy mpg ... vs. ...a 50cc water-cooled motorbike that gets 110 mpg. If we put seven people in the minivan then they are getting 168 mpg efficiency to the one person on the motorbike. Plus the van can carry seven plus lots of other good stuff that can’t be loaded on the enviro-bike.
The law of unintended consequences will mean more trips and less efficiency.
‘Splain, Lucy!..............
And it does, as long as the government keeps it's greedy, useless hands off of things. The last time they did this, they essentially abolished the large station wagon and opened the door to the large SUV. People still need to haul things, and they will find a way to do so despite what the left-wing, tree-hugging, brain-dead politicians dictate.
There, fixed it.
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