Tougher M.P.G. Rules Are Rejected

States News Service reports that, in a major victory for automakers, the U.S. House resoundingly rejected tough new fuel-economy standards Wednesday for sport-utility vehicles and other light trucks. The fuel efficiency provision was offered as part of a broad energy bill that implements much of George W. Bush administration's plan to boost domestic oil and natural gas supplies. The fuel economy measure, which failed 160-269, would have required all vehicles sold in the United States to meet an average fuel-economy level of 27.5 m.p.g. beginning in the 2007 model year. Current CAFE standards require that all passenger cars sold by an automaker in the United States earn an average of 27.5 m.p.g. Light trucks must meet a 20.7 m.p.g. standard, a provision that environmental groups deride as the light truck loophole. The defeated proposal would have created just one 27.5 m.p.g. standard for all the models in a manufacturer's fleet. Instead of the higher CAFE standards, the broad energy bill being debated by the House late Wednesday would require the Transportation Department to craft rules designed to force light trucks to consume 5 billion fewer gallons of gasoline by 2010. That provision was crafted as a compromise between Rep. W.J. (Billy) Tauzin (R-LA) who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Democratic Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn.