Clinton Calls for Tough Standards in New Energy Plan
Presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton, made waves at a speaking event in Iowa on Monday by laying out what her aggressive goals for the auto industry would be if she were president.
At the heart of Clinton’s 20-year plan to combat global warming, is the attainment of fuel economy standards far in excess of both their current levels, and what most automakers deem to be practically feasible in that time frame.
Clinton’s plan calls for corporate average fleet economy (CAFE) standards to be raised to 40 mpg by 2020 and up again to 55 mpg by 2030. These targets are in far loftier than those currently under consideration by the Senate which call for 35 mpg in the next 13 years, to say nothing of the consortium of automakers who claim that 32 to 35 mpg by 2022 is the best they can do while staying in business.
Increased CAFE requirements are one part of Clinton’s 10-year, $150 billion energy plan unveiled yesterday. Though it is safe to say that the Clinton plan will play poorly with automakers, it does include a provision to make $20 billion in low-interest bonds available to manufacturers as a means of updating production facilities. Additionally, Clinton will promote tax breaks for retiree costs and ramped up spending on hybrid vehicle research.
Speaking at a wind turbine parts factory in Rapid City, Iowa, Clinton said that “the climate crisis is also one of the greatest economic opportunities in the history of our country," continuing, "It will unleash a wave of innovation, create millions of new jobs, enhance our security and lead the world to a revolution in how we produce and use energy.
Comments
fstst56
No one in their right mind would vote for her anyway.
Ben
Hey, I thought she did a pretty good job the first time around...
Paul In Jersey
That plan sounds great...but only to those who make a living by saying, "Would you like fries with that?"
Winding Road » Archive » Flash! Senator Clinton’s Plan to Sa
[...] Senator Clinton, to her credit, intends to win it by taking positive steps. She has announced support for making U.S. automakers meet a 55-mpg combined fleet average by 2030. [...]
Aaron
I think i read somewhere quite a while ago that she was also in support of bringing back the 55mph national speed limit to reduce our fuel consumption. Not sure if that's true or not, though.
The Stig
She needs to stfu
Ducati Minor
I stay out of polity, not being party-affiliated and all, but I see a problem (beyond CAFE) with Senator Clinton's aim: would that win her the support of the UAW? I believe that Sen. John Edwards has the union's endorsement, but no one seems to think he's going to win his party's nomination. The UAW has expressed its opposition to jacked-up CAFE ratings.
This could be a rare example of the UAW siding with the GOP when the two candidates are chosen, as the Republican candidates seem less enthusiastic about state-mandated fuel economy standards--though I have no doubt a Republican in the White House will still agree to a CAFE raise in smaller form.
Shumly
Setting higher CAFE standards are good but the technology to produce cars that meet them are expensive.... therefore the question is will we be willing to pay a premium to buy such cars.
the duke
No one wants to pay more for gas, but seriously, if the goal is to reduce consuption, put a larger tax on gasoline. When gas is $5 a gallon, people will drive less. Taxing gasoline also has the benefit of lowering consumption of the whole national fleet (i.e. everyone driving less) as opposed to new CAFE standards that only apply to new cars. Given the 20 year cycle of the national fleet, a gas tax would actually bring the desired benefits of less consumption immediately. And the additional revenue from the higher taxes could be directly funneled into alternative transportation, such as highly efficient speed trains between large metropolises as seen in Europe and Japan.
Of course, that assumes the goal of her plan was to reduce consumption, not to win votes. As the automakers don't vote (directly) in an election, and tax increases are never popular, what should a spineless Presidential candidate do? Hmmm, how about a 55mpg CAFE standard?!!
Muscle Cars World » Blog Archive » Flash! Senator Clinton’s
[...] Senator Clinton, to her credit, intends to win it by taking positive steps. She has announced support for making U.S. automakers meet a 55-mpg combined fleet average by 2030. [...]
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