Today's Top News
Trump Using Detroit as Stage for Loosening Obama’s Fuel Economy Rules (The New York Times*)
President Trump will travel to Detroit on Wednesday to announce a rollback of stringent fuel economy standards for cars and trucks that were put in place by the Obama administration — a welcome message to American automakers but one that could slow the push for a new generation of efficient vehicles. The fuel-economy rules, aimed at cutting heat-trapping carbon dioxide, were one of the two main pillars of President Barack Obama’s climate change legacy. Put forth in 2012, they would have required automakers to nearly double the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, forcing automakers to speed development of highly fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrid and electric cars.
Trump takes steps toward undoing Obama’s auto emissions limits (POLITICO)
President Donald Trump will tap the brakes Wednesday on the Obama administration’s tightening of future vehicle emissions limits, in yet another strike at his predecessor’s energy and climate agenda. The auto industry has made it a top priority to review the Obama administration’s 11th-hour attempt to lock in tough standards for years, and Trump will deliver on a trip to Michigan Wednesday. He will direct EPA to reconsider its recent conclusion that automakers would be able to meet strict limits strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions that would have vehicles getting more than 50 miles per gallon on average by 2025.
Democrats to send climate change educational materials to EPA chief Scott Pruitt (CNBC)
Some congressional Democrats think Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt needs a primer on climate change. SEEC Member Congressman Earl Blumenauer, whose district includes part of Portland, Oregon, is sending Pruitt a packet of educational materials on climate change after the EPA chief said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" last week that he doesn't believe carbon dioxide is a "primary contributor" to global warming. Pruitt said more debate, analysis and review is needed on the subject.
Trump won't seek to roll back California vehicle authority (Reuters)
President Donald Trump will announce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will revive a review of the feasibility of strict fuel efficiency standards through 2025, but will not seek to withdraw California's authority to set its own vehicle rules, a White House official said late on Tuesday. Reuters reported on Monday the administration planned to announce the review on Wednesday as Trump heads to Michigan, home of the U.S. auto industry.
Trump dropping climate change impact from government reviews: report (The Hill)
President Trump plans to drop climate change as a factor in making government decisions, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The move, which would reportedly cover environmental reviews of appliance standards, industry regulations and pipeline projects, would largely reverse how the Obama administration addressed climate change. Former President Obama required government agencies to submit formal environmental reviews that factored the possible economic harm and impact projects would have from climate change.