House reaches deal on fuel economy

As expected (recently), the House leadership reached a deal on the energy bill to “stick with the Senate version’s goal of making the new automotive fleet achieve average fuel efficiency of 35 miles a gallon by 2020, about 40 percent higher than current averages.” The bill could be brought to a vote as early as next week.

The key, of course, was getting, the approval of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the car industry’s key congressional front man ally. What did the forces of intelligent fuel economy standards give up? “At Dingell’s urging it has tougher standards for cars than for light trucks.” And then there is the old flex fuel vehicle loop-hole clause:

Read more