I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t see this one coming. Apparently some of the Powers That Be are getting on board with the POTUS and looking down the line toward the future of the automotive industry in terms of cutting down the carbon emissions and boosting the fuel usage standards. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers provides the details.
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, May 19, automakers will join with President Obama, federal agencies, governors and environmental leaders to announce a commitment to establish a National Program that will reduce carbon emissions and increase fuel economy.
“For seven long years, there has been a debate over whether states or the federal government should regulate autos. President Obama’s announcement ends that old debate by starting a federal rulemaking to set a National Program,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Automakers are committed to working with the President to develop a National Program administered by the federal government.”
I am, by default, generally skeptical of any arrangement which involves more Federal Government regulation of industry, but the intentions here seem to be productive enough. At least on the surface. We’ll have a .pdf of the entire release up for you in the morning.