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Obama Lets States Tighten Fuel Standards

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 26, 2009 10:20 AM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama announced a drastic change in the nation’s energy policy today, beginning with an executive order allowing states to raise their fuel efficiency standards. "America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources,” Obama said. “Today I announce the first steps on our journey to energy independence.” The first of those steps: telling the EPA to review requests from 15 states to tighten fuel efficiency standards.

California and 14 other states attempted to tighten efficiency standards during the Bush administration, but were stymied by federal regulators. “Our nation's automakers are struggling—drastically restructuring and shedding jobs just to stay afloat,” complained a rep for John Boehner of Ohio. “And now they are being forced to spend billions of dollars to comply with California's emissions standards.”

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters during his meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009,  in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
President Barack Obama speaks to reporters during his meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this July 31, 2008 file photo, a customer holds a gas pump handle at an Exxon station in Vancouver, Wash.
In this July 31, 2008 file photo, a customer holds a gas pump handle at an Exxon station in Vancouver, Wash.   (AP Photo/Don Ryan, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Jan 26, 2009 5:19 AM CST
Agreed, upshotmatt. I traded in my truck for a small car, and when I decided that I still needed a truck for once in a while, I bought an older one and only drive it when I actually NEED to. So many 4 WD vehicles never see dirt.... mine does.
Shannonals
Jan 26, 2009 3:40 AM CST
I like this, let the states make the call.
upshotmatt
Jan 26, 2009 2:29 AM CST
i own a 14mpg truck and use it as a musician to haul my upright bass and band equipment - i think owning a truck is fine if you actually use the truck for some kind of utility..owning one for no reason its utterly ludicrous, especially when you have the choice to buy vehicles that get so much better mileage

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