Congress Requires Better Car, SUV Mileage

[Uber_Tiny]

WASHINGTON - Congress by a wide margin approved the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years Tuesday, and President Bush has signaled he will accept 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 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 greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

It increases energy efficiency "from light bulbs to light trucks," said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime protector of the auto industry who was key to a compromise on vehicle efficiency increases.

Many Republicans denounced the Democratic-crafted bill for failing to push for more domestic production of fossil fuels and for mandates some GOP lawmakers warned will not be possible.

"What we have here is a mandatory conservation bill," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. He argued that the auto fuel efficiency requirements and the huge increase in ethanol use may not prove to be technologically or economically possible.

Democrats disagreed. The legislation takes measured and concrete steps that are achievable, said Dingell.

The Senate passed the bill last week after discarding billions of dollars in higher taxes on oil companies and a solar and wind power mandate that opponents said would raise electric rates in the Southeast. President Bush and Senate Republicans opposed those measures.

The centerpiece of the bill remained the requirement for automakers to increase their industrywide vehicle fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 mpg by 2020 compared to today's 25 mpg when including passenger cars as well as SUVs and small trucks.

Congress has not changed the auto mileage requirement since it was first enacted in 1975.

This is good!

[VW_Factor]

I worry about the pollution thats created in the process of making corn into Ethanol. Its a fairly dirty process, and rainforests are disappearing at an even more alarming rate due to people cutting them down to make room to grow corn.

[Uber_Tiny]

I worry about the pollution thats created in the process of making corn into Ethanol. Its a fairly dirty process, and rainforests are disappearing at an even more alarming rate due to people cutting them down to make room to grow corn.

Well that's a new one about rain forests being cut down.

Actually, that's funny in a OMG why are people so ******* retarded way. Just think about it. Try doing something good for your environment, but forget that the rain forest is an important part of the environment.

I have lost all hope for our society.

[Uraloserface101]

OXYMORONIC EH? the rainforest thing i mean

[VW_Factor]

Its kinda sad, because most of America is short sighted and dont actually think of the "other" effects that moving to Ethanol may have on the rest of the world.

Otherwise. Its a good thing what the government is doing for sure. However, there are more ways to increase fuel mileage, and decrease our emissions to the atmosphere, than what the eco-freaks lobby our government for. Its where some money is, so they will continue with this bullshit.