A breath of fresh air

The new fuel-efficiency standards announced by Obama may end decades of combat between the automobile industry and environmentalists, writes the New York Times.

The New York Times

The nationwide automobile mileage and emissions standards announced by President Obama on Tuesday represent a huge step forward in the effort to limit greenhouse gases and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. They also represent a departure from the Bush administration’s indifference on these issues and an important down payment on Mr. Obama’s pledge to fashion an aggressive and imaginative energy policy.

The standards, forged after weeks of negotiations orchestrated by Carol Browner, the White House coordinator on energy and environmental matters, may also mark the end of decades of wearying, unproductive legal and political combat between the automobile industry and environmentalists. …

The agreement will raise fuel-efficiency standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 — a 40 percent increase over today’s 25 m.p.g. standard and a 30 percent increase over today’s actual fleetwide mileage of almost 28 m.p.g. And for the first time, it will impose limits on tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.

With this deal, America also wins back a bit of energy independence. But the biggest winner could be the atmosphere. Vehicles account for more than one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. …