Congress Eyes Boosting Fuel Economy

Stronger fuel-economy rules stand their best chance in years of passing Congress, amid heightened concern about gas prices and global warming, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

Environmental groups hope to strengthen the legislation to create higher miles-per-gallon standards, but the automobile industry and United Auto Workers contend that measures being considered are too drastic, the Times said.

The measure would boost fleetwide average fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, up from 25 mpg. It would increase standards by 4% a year from 2021 to 2030. If passed, it would be the first increase in standards for passenger cars in 18 years, the paper said. The first increase could come in model year 2011.

The bill would also boost domestic production of alternative fuels from about 7 billion gallons this year to 36 billion gallons by 2022.