Recent Federal Actions
This list includes recent federal actions, such as Federal Register notices and rulemaking actions, agency directives or agency communications, that are all publicly available. These actions relate to alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction and fuel economy measures. When rulemakings are finalized, they will move to the Federal Laws and Incentives Web site.
U.S. EPA Grants California Vehicle Emissions Waiver Request
June 30, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted California a vehicle emissions waiver, which will allow the state to set standards to help control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year. California first requested a waiver in December 2005, which was denied by EPA in March 2008. In early 2009, the California Air Resources Board submitted a letter requesting that EPA reconsider the waiver denial. Soon after, President Obama directed EPA to revisit the waiver request via a Presidential Memorandum. EPA re-opened a written comment period and held a public hearing to do so. Based on the review of statutory language, legislative history, comments received, and technological considerations concerning lead time and implementation costs, EPA determined that a waiver should be granted. This decision is consistent with EPA’s traditional interpretation of the Clean Air Act, which gives EPA the authority to allow California to adopt its own emission standards for new vehicles due to the severity of the state’s air pollution challenges. Once new federal vehicle standards for fuel efficiency and GHGs take effect, California has committed to allow automakers that show compliance with the national standards to also be deemed in compliance with state requirements. For more information regarding this decision, refer to the EPA press release and EPA’s California GHG Waiver Request Web site.
U.S. DOT to Implement Car Allowance Rebate System
June 24, 2009
President Obama has enacted the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009, which establishes an incentive program to encourage consumers to trade in older, less fuel efficient cars and trucks for newer, more fuel efficient vehicles. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will implement the voluntary Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program. Consumers may receive $3,500 or $4,500 toward the purchase or lease of a new vehicle at a participating dealership. The incentive amount depends on the type of vehicle purchased and the improvement in fuel economy of the purchase vehicle as compared to the trade-in vehicle. In general, trade-in vehicles must have a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 18 miles per gallon (mpg) or less and must be in drivable condition, less than 25 years old, and registered and insured for the full year prior to trade-in. For passenger vehicles, the purchase vehicle must be at least 4 mpg more fuel efficient than the trade-in vehicle. For vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickups, the purchase vehicle must be at least 2 mpg more fuel efficient. NHTSA will publish rules for the program within 30 days of enactment and the program will end November 1, 2009, or when DOT exhausts the funds set aside for the program, whichever comes first. For more information see the NHTSA CARS Web site.
U.S. EPA and U.S. DOT Announce Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to Establish Federal Vehicle Standards
May 22, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), have issued a Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to establish federal vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and fuel economy standards. This action follows President Obama’s announcement of a national policy to reduce GHG emissions and increase fuel economy for new passenger cars, light-duty-trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. As EPA is responsible for regulating air pollution under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and NHTSA is responsible for regulating Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, the two agencies will work in coordination to propose standards for GHG emissions and fuel economy, respectively. The standards will apply to Model Years 2012 through 2016 and will take into account the expected cost and commercial availability of new technologies. For more information see the Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking and the White House press release.
U.S. EPA Proposes Revised Renewable Fuel Standard Program Regulations
May 05, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2010 and beyond (RFS2). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires the national supply of renewable fuels to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, which requires a significant expansion of the current RFS (RFS1). The proposed revision to the RFS1 program specifies the volume of cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The program classifies these fuels as advanced biofuels, which are defined as fuels other than corn-based ethanol that produce half the greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel they replace. Once the RFS2 program is implemented, EPA expects to conduct an annual notice-and-comment rulemaking process in order to determine the appropriate standards applicable in the following year. For more information, see the EPA RFS Program Web site and the proposed rule (PDF 3 MB). Download Adobe Reader.
U.S. DOT Announces New Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2011 Vehicles
March 27, 2009
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule establishing the average fuel economy standards for Model Year (MY) 2011 passenger cars and light trucks. The new standards will raise the industry-wide combined average to 27.3 miles per gallon (mpg), as estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is an increase of 2 mpg over the 2010 model year average. The standards will save an estimated 887 million gallons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8.3 million metric tons. The MY 2011 standards will use an attribute-based system, which sets fuel economy standards for individual vehicle models based on size. DOT is working on a multi-year fuel economy plan to ensure that the industry-wide combined average of all new passenger cars and light trucks is not less than 35 miles per gallon by MY 2020. This plan will include an evaluation of fuel saving technologies, market conditions, and future product plans from the manufacturers. DOT will to coordinate with interested stakeholders and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, see the final rule published in the Federal Register (PDF 897 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
U.S. EPA Releases Proposed Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules
March 10, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large sources in the U.S. that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Under the proposal, manufacturers of motor vehicles and engines would be require to report GHG emission rates of new vehicles and engines beginning with Model Year 2011 at the same time and through the same process they currently follow for criteria pollutant emission certification and, where appropriate, fuel economy reporting. The purpose of the rule is to collect comprehensive and accurate data on GHG emissions that can be used to inform future policy decisions. EPA expects that the rule will cover 85-90% of total national GHG emissions. For more information, see the EPA GHG Emissions Web site and the proposed rule published in the Federal Register (PDF 433 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
February 17, 2009
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), which directs nearly $800 billion toward the creation of jobs, economic growth, tax relief, improvements in education and healthcare, infrastructure modernization, and investments in energy independence and renewable energy technologies. Specifically, the ARRA provides $16.8 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). This funding will support a variety of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technology grant programs, research and development initiatives, and fleet improvement efforts. The ARRA also expands the existing tax credits for installing alternative fuel infrastructure and purchasing plug-in electric vehicles, and provides additional funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program. The complete legislation can be viewed on the Library of Congress Web site.
U.S. EPA to Reconsider California Vehicle Emissions Waiver Request
February 06, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will reconsider its decision denying California permission to set standards controlling greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. As part of this process, EPA will re-open a written comment period and hold a public hearing in March. The announcement stems from a letter EPA received on January 21, 2009, from California outlining several issues for Administrator Lisa Jackson to review and reconsider regarding EPA’s previous denial of a waiver request. Shortly thereafter, President Obama directed EPA to revisit the waiver request via a Presidential Memoradum. For more information regarding this announcement, refer to the EPA press release and EPA’s Notice for Public Hearing and Comment (PDF 28 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
