Based on input from the public and a range of stakeholders, including public health groups, auto manufacturers, refiners, and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized emission standards for cars and gasoline.
Once fully in place, the EPA says the standards will help avoid up to 2,000 premature deaths per year and 50,000 cases of respiratory ailments in children.
The final fuel standards are also expected to help reduce gasoline sulfur levels by more than 60 percent—down from 30 to 10 parts per million (ppm) in 2017.
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The final standards are designed to quickly and effectively cut harmful soot, smog, and toxic emissions from cars and trucks.
The fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards covering model year vehicles from 2012-2025 are projected to save American families over $1.7 trillion in fuel costs, according to the EPA.
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The final standards are based on input from a range of groups, including state and local governments, auto manufacturers, emissions control suppliers, refiners, fuel distributors, and others in the petroleum industry, renewable fuels providers, health and environmental organizations, consumer groups, labor groups, and private citizens.
The EPS has built in flexibility and time for refiners to phase in compliance.
Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute described the new standards at “costly and counterproductive.”
“This rule’s biggest impact is to increase the cost of delivering energy to Americans, making it a threat to consumers, jobs, and the economy,” said API Downstream Group Director, Bob Greco, in a prepared statement. “But it will provide negligible, if any, environmental benefits. In fact, air quality would continue to improve with the existing standard and without additional costs.”
For more information of the EPA’s new emission standards, go here.
