Senate Defeats Amendment to Increase CAFE Standards for SUVs

Washington DC MAY 19, 2005; AIADA reported that The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 7-15 to defeat an amendment offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would have raised the fuel economy requirements of sport utility vehicles and light trucks to 27.5 miles a gallon by 2011,” reports Dow Jones Newswires. Under current Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE regulations, “Passenger vehicles must meet an average fuel economy standard of 27.5 miles a gallon. Most light trucks, which include SUV’s and pick-up trucks, must average 21 miles a gallon, according to the Transportation Department. In 2002, the administration ordered an increase in the standard for light trucks to 22.2 miles a gallon by 2007.” Senate Committee Chairman Pete Domenici said, "We have repeatedly shown ...that for an overall change in the CAFE standards there does not seem to be support in the Senate.” More from Dow Jones: “Feinstein, seeking to bring the standards for SUVs into parity with passenger vehicles, said her amendment would curb U.S. oil consumption by 1 million barrels a day, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil imports 10 percent by 2011, and save SUV and light truck owners over $4 billion at the pump.” Those opposing the amendment argued that increased CAFE standards at this time would “likely lead to job cuts at U.S. manufacturing plants,” according to the report. “Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expect more amendments to boost vehicle efficiency to be offered when the energy bill comes to the Senate floor.”