Kerry-McCain Proposal is Breakthrough in CAFE Debate

(8 March, 2002 — Washington) Environmental Defense today praised a new bipartisan fuel economy proposal, unveiled late Thursday by U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ), as an innovative way to save oil and address air pollution, while at the same time providing automakers with important flexibility in meeting those goals.

“This innovative bipartisan proposal not only mandates more efficient vehicles but also will harness the power of the market to reduce automotive emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief global warming pollutant,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Joseph Goffman. “Now is the time for both political parties to come together and support legislation that will help protect America’s economy by lessening our nation’s dependence on oil, and help protect the global climate by targeting carbon dioxide emissions from cars.”

“We are very pleased that this bipartisan bill will deliver significant energy savings, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas pollution,” said Environmental Defense legislative director Elizabeth Thompson. “This package also provides important flexibility in how fuel economy standards are met that will allow manufacturers to continue to make their own decisions on how to design and market their vehicles in response to the public’s demand for safety and performance.”

The Kerry-McCain proposal would tighten Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and establish a carbon emissions trading program. The package would raise fuel economy standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015. The carbon dioxide emissions trading option would also be phased in over time.