Trump to review MPG standards
President suggests rolling back EPA mileage standards
YPSILANTI, MICH. President Trump, calling for the U. S. “to be the car capital of the world again,” announced Wednesday that his administration will review the next round of tougher fuel- economy standards in a move that could lead to a rollback.
If the review eventually results in the standards being lowered, automakers potentially wouldn’t have to make as many cars with advanced carbon emission- cutting technology such as hybrids, electrics and hydrogen fuel cells in order to hit the minimums. Though cleaner, they are more complicated to make, can be less profitable and generally carry higher prices.
Trump, in an appearance at a former bomber plant near De-
troit, didn’t talk about environmental implications. Rather, he focused on regulations’ effects on manufacturing.
“The assault on the American auto industry is over,” he told a large group gathered at the plant, now being used for testing self- driving cars. He vowed to remove regulations that “undermine American auto production or any other kind of production.”
Environmentalists say Trump’s decision to open the review is the first step in cutting back on tougher corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, regulations due to cover cars in the 2022 to 2025 model years.
Trump told the crowd that the new standards are unrealistic.
Trump said the Obama administration rushed its decision to review regulations that become far more difficult to achieve from 2022 to 2025.
Environmentalists balked at the announcement. “They are risking rolling back to the bad old days,” said Roland Hwang, director of energy and transportation programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council.