U.S. Senator Stevens Submits Measure to Raise CAFE to 40 MPG by 2017

Washington DC January 9, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that a bill introduced by prominent Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska has buoyed hopes by environmentalists that a narrowly divided Senate can achieve bipartisan accord on climate change legislation, reports Congressional Quarterly.

Sen. Stevens has introduced a bill (S 183) that would require automakers to boost passenger-vehicle fuel efficiency standards – now set at 27.5 mgp – to 40 mpg by 2017.

The measure also would overhaul how CAFE standards are set by, among other things, requiring the secretary to consider whether raising the standards would reduce emissions and ease the country's dependence on oil. It would also require the commerce secretary to establish a national registry for companies to trade emissions credits of greenhouse gases in a voluntary system.

Republican votes will be necessary for any climate change legislation in order to get to a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate. The Stevens proposal is part of a flurry of legislative action on climate change expected to continue over the next several weeks.