In his State of the Union address, President Bush urged Congress to approve an energy plan aimed at reducing American gasoline consumption by 20 percent before 2017. The centerpiece of the proposal was a sharp expansion of the federal alternative-fuels mandate, raising required production of ethanol and other substitutes to 35 billion gallons annually by 2017, up from a previously set target of 7.5 billion gallons in 2012.
The plan also called for raising passenger-car and light-truck fuel efficiency by roughly 4 percent each year, beginning with model year 2010 for cars and 2012 for light trucks. Current rules require passenger-car fleets to average 27.5 miles per gallon, a figure unchanged for about 20 years. Bush sought authority to restructure those standards along the size-based sliding scale already applied to pickups and SUVs.
Automakers offered cautious responses. Ford said it would back equitable reforms, Toyota expressed support for the general direction, and General Motors said any increases must be technically feasible and preserve consumer choice. Some lawmakers worried about job losses at domestic manufacturers already under financial strain.
Environmental groups said the targets fell short, arguing that a 40-mpg standard was readily achievable, while industry representatives warned the timetable was extremely aggressive and success would hinge on adequate lead time for new technology.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in January 2007, in its own words.