Trump rollback of mileage standards guts climate change push

Hello ATS.

Well, it appears that while our attention has been focused on fighting and surviving the Covid 19 drama, the Trump Admin has been working to accomplish another one of its goals: Get rid of Obama-era vehicle mileage standards which were an attempt to curb climate change. Why would Trump do this and why now? Covid 19 is a RESPITORY disease and getting rid of vehicle mileage standards will lead to more CO2 in the atmosphere which will lead to MORE respiratory problems for people.

The Trump administration rolled back ambitious Obama-era vehicle mileage standards Tuesday, raising the ceiling on damaging fossil fuel emissions for years to come and gutting one of the United States’ biggest efforts against climate change. The Trump administration released a final rule Tuesday on mileage standards through 2026. The change — after two years of Trump threatening and fighting states and a faction of automakers that opposed the move — waters down a tough Obama mileage standard that would have encouraged automakers to ramp up production of electric vehicles and more fuel-efficient gas and diesel vehicles. “We are delivering on President Trump’s promise to correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards,” Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said in a statement Tuesday marking the release. He said the final rule “puts in place a sensible” national program that “strikes the right regulatory balance that protects our environment, and sets reasonable targets for the auto industry. This rule supports our economy, and the safety of American families.” Opponents contend the change — gutting his predecessor’s legacy effort against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions — appears driven by Trump’s push to undo regulatory initiatives of former President Barack Obama and say even the administration has had difficulty pointing to the kind of specific, demonstrable benefits to drivers, public health and safety or the economy that normally accompany standards changes. The Trump administration says the looser mileage standards will allow consumers to keep buying the less fuel-efficient SUVs that U.S. drivers have favored for years. Opponents say it will kill several hundred more Americans a year through dirtier air, compared to the Obama standards. Even “given the catastrophe they’re in with the coronavirus, they’re pursuing a policy that’s going to hurt public health and kill people,” said Chet France, a former 39-year veteran of the EPA, where he served as a senior official over emissions and mileage standards. “This is first time that an administration has pursued a policy that will net negative benefit for society and reduce fuel savings,” France said.

I'm trying to see a silver lining here but I don't. Does anyone see this as a good idea? If so, then why....? I'd really like to know. So, what says ATS?

www.yahoo.com...

After everyone’s fear mongering with this flu going around. Millions of jobs are now gone. Millions of families are now out of work and can’t pay bills. Gonna need to cut all the job killing regulations as possible to ease the crash this country is about to realize.

Better question......
What are the puppeteers doing pulling the puppets strings in this fashion?.

Who wants better mileage?

Not really new though.
www.nbcnews.com...

originally posted by: scubagravy
Better question......
What are the puppeteers doing pulling the puppets strings in this fashion?.

My thought(s) as well. Someone is benefiting from this move or it wouldn't be allowed to happen, you can believe that.

a reply to: Phage

Thanks for the article, Phage.

a reply to: lostbook

Finally some good news.

originally posted by: Middleoftheroad
After everyone’s fear mongering with this flu going around. Millions of jobs are now gone. Millions of families are now out of work and can’t pay bills. Gonna need to cut all the job killing regulations as possible to ease the crash this country is about to realize.

It's not just fear mongering. People are actually dying from Covid 19. Cutting regulations will do nothing but create more problems down the road in the near future.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

That's right. Oil is pretty cheap right now, isn't it?
We need to burn more of it. To get oil revenue up. Go Alaska!

Love it. Should have happened years ago. The sports car options have almost vanished with car companies taking them out their lineup. Waited for years for another gas guzzling Mazda rotary sports car. Obama killed that option. I'm now looking at Lotus. One of the only damn lightweight sports cars left outside of supercars which almost nobody can afford except left wing celebrities and left wing sports stars. Fvcking BS.

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: lostbook

Finally some good news.

Maybe so...........In the short term.

a reply to: Middleoftheroad

Apparently we found a point of resistance... destroy the economy in the name of COVID: that's fine. Crap on the Constitution in the name of COVID: OK. Roll back ridiculous and domestically damaging fuel efficiency standards with the intention of rebounding quicker from COVID's economic and production destroying impacts: Oh sweet Baby Jesus he cant do that, what a monster!!!

a reply to: Stupidsecrets

I recently bought a gti. Not a gas guzzler, until you put your foot into it. I would highly recommend it, or any turbocharged car. Boost is very addictive! Good luck

Ps I do love a lotus elise

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: burdman30ott6

That's right. Oil is pretty cheap right now, isn't it?
We need to burn more of it. To get oil revenue up.

Look at Alaska's economy and our primary revenue stream. We're an oil state, THE oil state when taken as what percentage of our economy oil constitutes. Obviously I'd be happy with 10 MPG being the norm. That said, I'm a free market guy (domestically speaking, not across country borders) and believe the government has no place legislating this type of thing. If the majority of consumers wanted it, the market would have made it the norm. That did not happen, meaning most Americans rejected the plan and meaning it shouldn't have been done by Obama.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

Obviously I'd be happy with 10 MPG being the norm.

I know. Screw everything else if it's good for Alaskan pocketbooks. It's the 'merican way.

originally posted by: Stupidsecrets
Love it. Should have happened years ago. The sports car options have almost vanished with car companies taking them out their lineup. Waited for years for another gas guzzling Mazda rotary sports car. Obama killed that option. I'm now looking at Lotus. One of the only damn lightweight sports cars left outside of supercars which almost nobody can afford except left wing celebrities and left wing sports stars. Fvcking BS.

Just build a car, cooler than any modern plastic crap..if you really want muscle that is.

I am not thinking that the little carbon dioxide given off by cars is going to make a difference, other chemicals in the exhaust might though. I doubt if the standards set by obama could be achieved at reasonable cost, it would cost a fortune in maintenance over the life of your vehicle to keep the standards up to par. I do believe in being good stewards of the environment, but the new cars are very efficient these days, if we stay there for a while we will be fine. We have to quit flying all over the country and world and quit going thousands of miles to vacation by jet. Those are the worst reason for the CO2 in the atmosphere, the stuff on the ground feeds the trees and the grasses and crops.

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: burdman30ott6

Obviously I'd be happy with 10 MPG being the norm.

I know. Screw everything else if it's good for Alaska. It's the 'merican way.

Seems to be everyone else's viewpoint on their pet causes... CV infringing your rights? Screw you, the measures taken pander to my wants! Green New Deal gonna hose your family's budget? Screw you, it suits my demands that we live in perpetual fear of the AGW boogeyman! You already worked your fingers to the bone to pay for your own college? Screw you, pay more in tax so I can get a free ride! You planned ahead and have health insurance? Screw you, you should pay 10 times more to cover my health needs and make sure I dont suffer for my own bad choices.

So yeah, 10 MPG = great, everyone not in an oil state can sit and spin.

a reply to: vonclod

I couldn't agree more. So long as you have the time and money to build it. The time and money to fix it when it breaks. And the time and money for a good divorce lawyer so your soon to be ex wife doesn't get it in the settlement when she leaves you because you've spent all your time and money on your car. For now ill keep what I got and do my planned mods.

Eta no sarcasm meant, I really do agree with you. Just not practical for most.

originally posted by: vonclod

originally posted by: Stupidsecrets
Love it. Should have happened years ago. The sports car options have almost vanished with car companies taking them out their lineup. Waited for years for another gas guzzling Mazda rotary sports car. Obama killed that option. I'm now looking at Lotus. One of the only damn lightweight sports cars left outside of supercars which almost nobody can afford except left wing celebrities and left wing sports stars. Fvcking BS.

Just build a car, cooler than any modern plastic crap..if you really want muscle that is.

My sixty nine mustang with a 302 Cleveland engine and headers and a six fifty double pumper on it got twenty five miles to the gallon, even with the n50 fifteen slick tires on it. Of course when I was racing, I only got maybe fifteen miles to a gallon.

My Subaru forester is getting twenty four miles to a gallon. on the shorter trips we take, now the mustang was all short trips. My old buick electra with the 430 wildcat engine in it used to get twenty two miles to the gallon on the highway. Only sixteen riding around town though. It burned very clean, no smell.