Pelosi wins 35-mpg fuel standard

Nancy Pelosi is a smart, patient lawmaker. Against all odds, she has achieved a 35 mile-per-gallon fuel standard for cars and light trucks. The speaker today gathered enough support to pass a meaningful energy bill, one that Bush is unlikely to veto. It's about time!

John M. Broder and Micheline Maynard report in the New York Times:

The compromise should ensure passage in the House, although the Senate may insist on changes. It does not appear to include provisions, like $16 billion in new taxes on the oil industry, that drew a veto threat from President Bush.

The latest version of the measure, if it becomes law, will force wrenching changes on the American car companies, from design studios to new-car showrooms to executive suites. Automakers now have to achieve 27.5 miles per gallon on cars, a figure that has not changed since 1984, and 22.2 miles per gallon for light trucks, including minivans, sport utility vehicles and pickups. Under the compromise, the companies will retain the distinction between the classes of vehicles, but must still meet a combined 35 m.p.g. fleetwide standard.

Ms. Pelosi called the compromise on mileage “an historic advancement in our efforts in the Congress to address our energy security and laying strong groundwork for climate legislation next year.” She said that she was confident it would win the backing of environmentalists, auto makers and labor and would clear Congress by the end of this year.

Pelosi did it by beating back the Big Three automakers, who continued to complain that the standards were onerous if not impossible. She also did it by compromising with fellow Democrat John Dingell, the Michigan protector of the Big Three, by providing assistance for producing small ethanol-burning cars in the US.

Most important for the environment, the proposed bill leaves the Environmental Protection Agency with sole authority for enforcing mileage standards, and it reiterates the right of California and other states to set more stringent standards.

This week oil has dropped below $90 a barrel again, but it will rise well above $100 soon. This bill is one large step in the right direction.

Next, the plugin hybrid.