As part of his efforts to combat climate change, President Obama will order the EPA Tuesday to issue a new round of regulations by March 2016 requiring auto manufacturers to boost fuel efficiency in medium and heavy-duty vehicles, a White House official said.
Mr. Obama will make the announcement at a Safeway distribution center in Upper Marlboro, Md., where he will also detail his administration’s efforts to encourage companies to use more fuel-efficient fleets.
“Those steps will help bolster American energy security, cut carbon pollution, save money and support manufacturing innovation,” the White House official said.
The president’s order for the EPA and other federal agencies is the second round of fuel economy standards for such vehicles, after the first set of standards was imposed on vehicles built from 2014 through 2018.
In addition, Mr. Obama will announce $200 million in new and extended tax credits to encourage investment in vehicles that run on biofuels or other energy sources The administration said the proposal will allow the private sector to determine whether to use biofuels, hydrogen, natural gas, electricity or other alternative fuels.
Mr. Obama also will call on Congress to establish an Energy Security Trust to promote “diligent” oil and gas production on federal lands. Money from drilling on federal lands would support a $2 billion annual fund to spend on technologies to produce advanced vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
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• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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