President Bush Acts to Cut GHG Emissions from Vehicles and Engines

May 16, 2007

Photo of President Bush at a podium flanked by two people on either side, with White House doors and two flags in the background.

President Bush announced the new policy in the Rose Garden, flanked by (left to right) Energy Deputy Secretary Clay Sell, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, and Agricultural Secretary Mike Johanns.
Credit: Joyce Boghosian, White House

President Bush has directed DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Transportation to take the first steps toward regulations that would cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles. The President issued an executive order on May 14th, setting a policy for the three agencies to work together to protect the environment from GHGs emitted by engines and to do so in a manner consistent with sound science, public safety, economic growth, and an analysis of costs and benefits. The order directs the three federal agencies to prepare regulations for motor vehicles, non-road vehicles, and non-road engines that achieve this policy to the maximum extent permitted by law and considered practical by the three agencies. The order also directs the agencies to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture whenever a regulatory action will have a significant effect on crops related to the production of renewable fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel. See the executive order.

In announcing the new policy, President Bush said it was spurred by a Supreme Court ruling that the EPA must take action under the Clean Air Act to regulate GHG emissions from motor vehicles. In a meeting with leaders from the four agencies, the President asked the agencies to start with his "20-in-10" goal of reducing gasoline use by 20 percent over the next 10 years. President Bush set the end of 2008 as a deadline for the new regulations, and also called on Congress to support the regulations with appropriate legislation. See the President's statement and a related fact sheet.