Several power industry and automaker associations are asking the heads of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the benefits of increased electric transportation are considered in any proposal tied to proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy and greenhouse gas standards.
In their May 22 letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, the groups note that the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced they will issue a joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would request comment on a range of proposed CAFE and GHG standards for light-duty vehicles.
The groups, including the American Public Power Association, asked that the agencies take comment in any upcoming proposal “on the inclusion of a suite of flexibilities that focus on technology adoption and allow automakers and states to maximize the benefits of increased electric transportation.”
The groups noted that they believe “these flexibilities will further deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and other advanced vehicles, provide GHG reductions, and maintain a single national program for fuel economy and GHG standards.”
Along with the Association, other groups signing on to the letter were the Edison Electric Institute, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Association of Global Automakers and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The groups said they continue to support standards that provide important flexibilities and recognize the role of EVs as a compliance solution.
Although EPA and NHTSA have yet to propose the joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking about future fuel-efficiency standards, the groups said they continue to support increases in the stringency of fuel economy and GHG standards year-over-year that also incorporate policies from California and other zero-emissions vehicle states “to ensure that ‘One National Program’ is maintained.”
The letter also noted that many of the members of EEI, the Association and NRECA are actively involved in the development of the regulations, financial incentives, and infrastructure for commercial deployment of EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs.
The letter is available here.
