Ireland Owens
Contributor
Newly-confirmed Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy is already moving to overturn the Biden-Harris administration’s stringent fuel economy standards for vehicles.
Shortly after Duffy was sworn in as transportation secretary on Tuesday, he signed a memorandum to begin the process of resetting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. As a result of regulatory costs, the CAFE standards have “diminished the strength of America’s auto industry” and “denied Americans the full range of affordable vehicles they need,” according to a DOT press release.
CAFE standards were first enacted by Congress in 1975 to regulate the fuel economy of vehicles. The NHTSA most recently strengthened the standards under former President Joe Biden in June 2024, requiring manufacturers to increase fuel economy by 2% each year for new passenger vehicles from 2027 to 2031 and for new light trucks from 2029 to 2031.
The updates to CAFE standards under Biden were widely criticized for potentially saddling carmakers with billions in compliance costs which would have resulted in higher prices for consumers.
The Biden-Harris administration led a push for Americans to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the former president’s signature green energy agenda, which also included stringent tailpipe emissions standards introduced in March 2024. Biden’s administration also shelled out billions to build a network of half a million EV chargers nationwide by 2030, but as of April 2024, just 38 were operational. (RELATED: Soil Near Massive California Battery Fire Found Loaded With ‘Toxic’ Metals As Residents Report Headaches, Itchy Eyes)
“I am deeply honored by the trust placed in me by President Trump to lead this important Department and for the Senate in swiftly confirming my nomination,” Duffy wrote in the press release. “We are already hard at work executing the President’s vision to usher in a golden age of transportation by taking immediate action to remove government overreach and lower costs for hardworking Americans. The memorandum signed today specifically reduces the burdensome and overly restrictive fuel standards that have needlessly driven up the cost of a car in order to push a radical Green New Deal agenda. The American people should not be forced to sacrifice choice and affordability when purchasing a new car.”
President Donald Trump has been an outspoken critic of Biden’s EV policies. Trump vowed to repeal Biden’s de facto electric vehicle mandate while on the campaign trail, calling the measures “insane.” Just hours after returning to office on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order that aims to unleash “America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources,” which he said will “restore American prosperity.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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This will lead to lower prices and more market choices for Americans. It will not affect the environment in any meaningful way.
The purpose of the law was to conserve energy, an overriding concern in 1975 when the US was overly dependent upon middle eastern oil. That is no longer the case, yet the law has been abused to achieve green new deal policy objectives, unrelated to the original intent of Congress. The best way forward is to reform the law to revoke the power of Presidents to set CAFE standards … either that, or just eliminate the CAFE provisions altogether.
Even in 1975 the law was unneeded. Due to rising gas prices, the consumers were already demanding more fuel efficient cars, and Detroit was working to provide them.
Yes, repeal.
And, for any other unneeded bureaucrat-employing agency repeal the establishing legislation.
Suggestion to MAGA Congress: Repeal 2 laws for every new one passed.
Story Tip
From the UK Telegraph, another pronouncement from Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Ed Miliband has promised Britain will slash its climate emissions by more than 60pc by 2035 in a move that risks direct conflict with Rachel Reeves’s airport expansion plans.
The Energy Secretary has told the United Nations that the UK will cut its emissions, including from aviation, from 393m tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023 to 155m tonnes in 2035 – a 61pc reduction.
The 2023 figure excludes emissions from international aviation. However, Mr Miliband made clear that the UK aviation industry must now join with other sectors in making sharp cuts in emissions.
…….
The UK submission states: “The UK is re-establishing itself as a climate leader on the global stage… There is no global stability without climate stability. The UK has demonstrated it is back in the business of climate leadership and… is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050.”
What is with these lunatics that they are always congratulating themselves on their imaginary ‘leading the world’. What good does it do the UK to lead the world? And in fact what they are doing is impossible of achievement, useless if achieved, and financially and socially ruinous to attempt.
By 2030 if they carry on like this they will have produced a social and economic disaster. But they show no sign of being deterred by the obvious consequences coming into view. It is really like that crazed African tribe, slaughtering its cattle and destroying its crops.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nongqawuse
You can see how mad this is if you look at where the emissions are coming from. These are 2023 numbers from UK Government site.
Electricity Generation 44 MtCO2e
Fuel Supply 31
Transport 112
Buildings 78
Industry 53
Other 67
Total 384
The numbers in the piece are:
2023 actual 393 MtCO2e
2035 target 155
___________________
238 Reduction required.
___________________
I don#t know where the discrepancy between 384 and the 393 in the piece comes from. The 384 has a small rounding error.
But on his own account, he needs to reduce by 238 MtCO2e. Where from? Even if you get to net zero in power gen you are nowhere near the objective. I guess you have to convert almost all transport and buildings to electric, convert power generation totally to wind and solar. And see if you still have a country.
The guy is simply a complete twonk
Yes, Milliband is indeed that.
We may be a “climate leader” but we are leading nobody to nowhere. Totally insane.
Other nations are more impressed by a nation’s economic and military power- not their climate policies.
A leader with no followers is just a man taking a walk.
Reeves said more planes wouldn’t affect a greener UK due to modern airplane engines are much more efficient and so lower emissions.
Well, same applies to IC engined vehicles so the ban on new ones should be discarded using same arguments.
Reeves trying move in two different directions at once…
Reeves is just as dumb as Miliband.
There is no global stability without economic stability, which is driven by energy stability.
What’s with Climate Cosmos appearing to be a skeptical site given the flavour of their articles-
How Many Times Have Climate Doomsday Predictions Been Wrong
What If We Just Adapt – The Case for Living With Climate Change Instead of Fighting It
Seems they happily rely on AI for their articles and once you view one they seem to bob up fairly frequently on general news sites-
About CLIMATE COSMOS – Climate Cosmos
Are they dumping the EPA fuel economy rules that make pickups the size of the old 1970’s and early 1980’s Courier and LUV impossible? New trucks that size would be required to get 50+ MPG.
https://youtu.be/azI3nqrHEXM
Hope so. I bet the market for those old small trucks is gigantic.
I’d buy a nice little Tiyoda PU with a four banger and a 5sp manual. Like the 91 I had for 20 years!
I’ve still got a Toyota Tacoma from 2004 with 4 cylinder, 4wd – a basic model with no fancy features. I’ve done some body work and recently replaced the wheels which were rusted- and a few years ago replaced the rear bumper. Still runs great. Never a problem with engine, trans, or clutch. In ’05, Toyota upgraded that model- bigger, only 6 cylinder, etc.
I bought a new Nisan Frontier last year. I wish it was a bit narrower. I drove short, narrow Jeep XJ Cherokee’s for 35 years. The width of modern mid size pickups have been an adjustment.
If the climate fearful really want to help save the planet- they can buy such a vehicle- I’m sure the market will provide some for all the fearful out there. The rest of us want to keep the costs down for our driving needs. Low cost vehicle and low cost energy.
This is good as a short term fix. But Congress must reform the underlying Federal law, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which abdicates Congressional authority to the President to set CAFE at whatever standard the incumbent desires. Too much Presidential power in that and that is why we continue to flip flop on CAFE standards with every change in occupant in the White House. We cannot depend upon Republicans holding the Presidency forever, as we have see for the last 50 years.
The reform must claw back Presidential authority and require Congress to amend the law to change the standards.
This is one among many Federal laws that must be reformed if we are to return sanity to our Federal government on a long term basis. Others needing reform include the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the Administrative Procedures Act, etc., and the Senate must reform the filibuster rule in order to do all of the above. Budget reconciliation has been used as a workaround of the filibuster, but the reconciliation rule limits the legislative timeframe to 10 years. If a Dem administration or Congress happens to be in power when the 10 years are up, oh well, too bad. If the GOP had not won both the White House and Congress in November, the so-called “Trump Tax Cuts” would have expired next year – an utter calamity, creating the largest tax increase in history.
Agree. Amending the regulation is a good short-term fix. It should be amended.
But if all they do is amend the regulation, that action can be reversed by any future administration, and we’ll be right back where we started. What needs to be done to make the change permanent is to repeal the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. And also amend the Clean Air Act to specifically prohibit the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and methane. And Congress needs to do this quickly while Republicans have a majority in both houses of Congress and a Republican President to sign the bills into law. Two years from now if Democrats win back control of the House, it will be too late.
If the changes are written into statutory law, it will be almost impossible to change back.
Donald would like to show his appreciation to black men for their faith in him dealing with the warmenistas-
Historic winter storm blankets Alabama beach in snow | Watch
Making America Cool Again!
Meanwhile on a serious note what can we do to fix our stuff up with expensive fickle energy-
EU Commission calls for dialogue as European automotive industry faces mounting challenges | Watch
This will be interesting boys and girls.
It is so nice to hear of a country (US) where its leader has guts to do what he promised to do. Not like the lily livered so called leaders of UK
I am still baffled as to why the NHTSA is involved in any way over vehicle fuel efficiency.
Smaller cars aren’t as safe as larger cars. The only way to meet the new CAFE standards is to make all cars tiny.
Don’t worry as Trump and Co are sorting all that messy overlapping stuff out-
Over 13 thousand federal employees receive vile email about Trump
4 years is plenty of time
Thank you!!!
More good news.
One has to take these EPA estimates and government fuel economy with not just a grain of salt but a heaping tablespoon. For starters, one has to have ideal driving conditions to achieve those numbers; e.g., temperatures comfortable enough that A/C use is unnecessary, smoothly-flowing traffic on a uncongested and well-maintained level highway with few hills, and a car whose mechanicals and tires are in ideal operating order. As well, speeds have to be a consistent 55-60 mph, and there has to be an absence of head-, tail- and crosswinds or slippery surfaces. How often does one encounter these situations? Inevitably there are traffic and/or weather snags or the vehicle is carrying a heavier-than-usual load, or there are other factors that undermine the fuel efficiency. So drivers and government policy-makers shouldn’t expect to get the same results as professional drivers achieve on test tracks under perfect road situations.
To buy or not to buy an EV that is the question?
‘Game-changing’ electric car batteries could push 1000km driving range and cut EV prices massively: Is Stellantis, owner of Ram, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen and Maserati, onto something big? – Car News | CarsGuide
That settles it and Toyota hybrid update it is for the missus in the meantime.
“The updates to CAFE standards under Biden were widely criticized for potentially saddling carmakers with billions in compliance costs which would have resulted in higher prices for consumers.”
But those higher prices for ICE vehicles would have increased the competitiveness of the BEV market. I wonder what Elon Musk thinks about removing these rules for more efficient ICE vehicles.