United States President, Barack Obama

Not surprisingly, President Obama has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to begin working on tougher fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks in the 2017 model year moving forward.

The administration will announce plans to extend a program that set efficiency standards this year for cars, and to also ask federal agencies to develop heavy-truck standards beginning with the 2014 model year. The president also intends to push for further development of electric-powered and other advanced technology cars.

This past April, as part of the president”s push to modernize America”s automobiles, he announced rules for 2012-2016 model year vehicles to aim for 35.5 mpg. The rules are welcomed by automakers and environmentalist groups alike.

California has also agreed not to adapt any further state standards through 2017, but this extension will set national standards for efficiency. “Improving the gas mileage of these vehicles not only would provide opportunity for economic growth and job creation, but would strengthen our energy security and reduce global warming emissions as well,” said Don Anair, a senior analyst with UCS.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: MSNBC
Image Source: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza