Regulation of Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions: State and Federal Standards

Order Code RS22788

January 11, 2008

Regulation of Vehicle Greenhouse Gas

Emissions: State and Federal Standards

Brent D. Yacobucci

Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy

Resources, Science, and Industry Division

Summary

California is seeking, under the Clean Air Act, authority to establish greenhouse

gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger vehicles. The standards would require a

30% reduction in per-mile GHG from 2002 levels by 2016. To implement the

standards, the state must secure a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA). In December 2007, the EPA Administrator announced that the agency would

deny California’s waiver request, in part, because he argues new federal fuel economy

standards established in the 2007 energy bill (P.L. 110-140) will be more stringent than

the California program. California is challenging the agency’s denial and its rationale.

This report discusses the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

standards (including tighter standards enacted under P.L. 110-140) and compares them

with the GHG standards under California’s law. It also identifies some factors that

would have a bearing on the relative stringency of CAFE and the California program.

Background. In 2002, the state of California enacted AB1493, requiring

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions for new passenger vehicles starting in model

year (MY) 2009. In 2004, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) finalized

regulations requiring annual reductions in average GHG emissions for new vehicles

between MY2009 and MY2016. Ultimately, this law requires a 30% reduction in average

per-mile emissions from MY2002 levels by MY2016. As of January 2008, 16 other states

have adopted or announced their intention to adopt California’s standards.1

Passenger vehicles are a key source for GHG emissions from mobile sources in the

United States. Transportation accounts for roughly one third of all U.S. carbon dioxide

(CO2) emissions. Passenger vehicles alone represent roughly 60% of transportation

emissions, or roughly 20% of total U.S. CO2 emissions. Because passenger vehicles play

1

Pew Center on Global Climate Change. States Poised to Adopt California Vehicle GHG

Standards. Updated December 2007. For more information on state actions on GHGs, see CRS

Report RL33812, Climate Change: Action by States To Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

CRS-2

such a significant role in U.S. GHG emissions, there is growing interest in reducing their

emissions as part of a strategy to address climate change concerns.

In general, there are three ways to reduce vehicle GHG emissions: 1) reduce vehicle

miles traveled (through strategies such as carpooling, transit, or teleworking); 2) reduce

vehicle per-mile fuel consumption (through improved fuel economy) and per-mile noncarbon emissions (e.g., fluorinated gas emissions from air conditioner systems) through

improvements in vehicle systems; and 3) convert to lower-carbon transportation fuels.

Therefore, any program to reduce GHG emissions will likely raise fuel economy.

Likewise, any program to increase fuel economy will lower GHG emissions.

States do not have the authority to set fuel economy standards. That authority rests

solely with the federal government, which sets federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy

(CAFE) standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (P.L. 94-163). However,

critics of the proposed standards argue that, if the reductions finalized by CARB are

placed into effect, these standards will largely be met through increases in vehicle fuel

economy. In other words, in this view, California’s proposal to impose more stringent

standards on vehicle emissions is an implicit, if not explicit, fuel economy standard.

While states do not have authority to regulate fuel economy, the Clean Air Act grants

California solely the authority to set vehicle pollutant emissions standards — subject to

the state filing a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and being

granted a waiver by that agency. Any state-established standards must be at least as

stringent as the federal standards, and must be needed to meet “compelling and

extraordinary conditions.”2 While only California can petition for a waiver, other states

may adopt any California standards that are put into place following the granting of the

waiver. However, on December 19, 2007, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson sent a

letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger informing him that EPA would

deny California’s waiver request.3 Without this waiver, California’s program cannot be

implemented.

EPA’s rationale appears to consist of two arguments: First, California has not shown

that its regulations are needed to meet compelling and extraordinary conditions, as

required by the Clean Air Act. Second, the Administration and Congress are addressing

climate change through national standards. These explanations have been deemed

unsatisfactory by California officials. As a result, on January 2, 2008, California (along

with 15 other states) filed a suit against EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit,

challenging EPA’s rejection of the petition.

Federal CAFE Standards. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)

established CAFE standards for passenger cars for MY1978. The CAFE standards called

2

For more information on the Clean Air Act waiver process, see CRS Report RL34099,

California's Waiver Request to Control Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act.

3

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. Letter to the Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger,

Governor of the State of California. December 19, 2007. It should be noted that there are no

details in the letter of how the number of 33.8 mpg was calculated.

CRS-3

for an eventual doubling in new car fleet fuel economy by 1985.4 EPCA also granted the

Department of Transportation (DOT) the authority to establish CAFE standards for other

classes of vehicles, including light-duty trucks.5 DOT first established CAFE standards

for light trucks in MY1979.

For passenger cars, the current standard is 27.5 mpg. For light trucks, the standard

was 22.2 mpg for MY2007. On April 6, 2006, DOT issued additional rules to further

increase light truck fuel economy through MY2011, although that rule was recently sent

back to DOT. In November 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled

that the agency had not conducted a sufficiently rigorous analysis to measure whether the

standards in the final rule would have a beneficial effect in improving environmental

quality through reduction of GHG emissions.

On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and

Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140, H.R. 6). Among other provisions, Title I of the law

requires an increase in passenger car and light truck fuel economy standards to a

combined average of 35 mpg in 2020 (up from roughly 25 mpg today). The law requires

DOT to set interim standards between MY2011 and MY2019 in order to reach the 2020

goal, but does not specify a schedule for CAFE increases. The American Council for an

Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that the CAFE provisions in P.L. 110-140

will save roughly 2.4 million barrels of oil per day in 2020. Further, ACEEE estimates

that the standards could reduce annual CO2 emissions by 47 million metric tons (MMT)

annually by 2020 and 404 MMT annually by 2030.6

While the new law requires an umbrella average of 35 mpg for cars and light trucks,

the law requires separate standards for these classes. It is expected that the passenger car

standard will be significantly higher than the light truck standard. As previously noted,

one of the arguments advanced by EPA Administrator Johnson in denying California’s

request was that the restructuring of CAFE in P.L. 110-140 will result in a more stringent

program than the proposed California program. A number of considerations factor into

any analysis of the agency’s contention; some of the major ones are discussed below.

California’s Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Rule. California’s rule is not an explicit

fuel economy standard, but instead limits total vehicle per-mile GHG emissions. These

include CO2 emissions from combustion, as well as tailpipe methane emissions and

hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from air conditioning systems. However, since the

majority of vehicle emissions are CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, it is expected that

most of the reductions needed to meet the California standards will come through

reductions in per-mile fuel consumption (i.e., increases in vehicle fuel economy). Other

allowable strategies include credits for the sale of alternative fuel and flexible fuel

vehicles, if it can be demonstrated that these vehicles will be operated on alternative fuels.

4

For more information on the CAFE program, see CRS Report RL33413, Automobile and Light

Truck Fuel Economy: The CAFE Standards.

5

6

Light trucks include pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Energy Bill Savings Estimates as Passed

by the Senate. December 14, 2007. Available at [http://www.aceee.org/energy/national

/EnergyBillSavings12-14.pdf], accessed January 7, 2008.

CRS-4

The standards are separated into two classes. The first is passenger cars (PC) and

lighter light duty trucks (LDT1).7 The second is heavier light duty trucks (LDT2).8

Unlike the new CAFE standard, there is no umbrella standard for the California program.

Therefore, if more vehicles in the PC/LDT1 class are sold in California, the fleet average

will be higher, if fewer of these vehicles are sold, the average will be lower.9

The state of California estimates that by 2016, their standards will save roughly 17

MMT of CO2 annually by 2016, and that the program, along with anticipated standards

for MY2017 through MY2020 will save 33 MMT annually by 2020.10 Further, the state

estimates that the required GHG reductions are equivalent to an average fuel economy of

36.6 mpg for new vehicles in the state.11 However, in denying California’s waiver

request, EPA estimated that California’s standards would result in an 33.8 mpg average

in California and the other states looking to adopt California’s standards.

One of the key requirements under the Clean Air Act to allow California to set its

own standards is that the standards be at least as stringent as the federal standards.

According to California, they have met this requirement; EPA contends they have not,

based on its estimate of fuel economy under the California program. California estimates

that the CAFE program would result in an average fuel economy in the state of 35.7 mpg

by 2020, and would save a total of roughly 8 MMT annually within the state by 2016, and

roughly 19 MMT by 2020.12 (As compared to 17 MMT and 33 MMT, respectively, under

the California program.) EPA has yet to publish estimates of the anticipated GHG

savings from new CAFE standards.

Comparison of CAFE and California’s Program. The California program and

the federal CAFE program regulate two different, although overlapping, factors. The

CAFE program requires that automakers achieve specific fuel economy targets while the

California program requires automakers to achieve specific reductions in vehicle GHG

emissions (See Table 1).

Two key questions must be addressed in comparing the federal CAFE program with

the California program. The first is the mix of vehicles covered by the programs. The

CAFE standards under P.L. 110-140 require an umbrella standard of 35 mpg by 2020.

The law also requires separate standards for passenger cars and light trucks, but leaves

these standards to the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation. It is expected that the

passenger car standard will be more stringent than the light truck standard. Therefore, a

state whose new vehicle fleet mirrors the national average will have average fuel economy

roughly equivalent to the CAFE standard. A state that buys more light trucks will likely

have a lower average fuel economy; a state that buys more passenger cars will likely have

7

LDT1: Light-duty trucks up to 3,750 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW).

8

LDT2: Light-duty trucks above 3,750 pounds GVW.

9

Under the federal program, regardless of the fleet mix, the combined average must be 35 mpg.

10

California Air Resources Board (CARB). Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Reductions Under

CAFE Standards and ARB Regulations Adopted Pursuant to AB1493. January 2, 2008. pp. 8-9.

11

Ibid. p. 6.

12

Ibid. p. 10.

CRS-5

a higher average fuel economy. California estimates that passenger cars and lighter light

trucks represent roughly 70% of new vehicles in the state, as opposed to roughly 50%

nationwide. The California program maintains separate standards for a slightly different

set of vehicles than the federal program, but has no umbrella standard.

Table 1. Comparison of CAFE Under P.L. 110-140 and California’s

Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Program

Program

CAFE Under P.L.

110-140

California’s Vehicle GHG

Program

Regulated Measure

Fuel economy (mpg)

Greenhouse Gases (g/mi)

Vehicle Classes

- Passenger Cars

- Light Trucks

- Passenger Cars and Lighter

Light Trucks (LDT1)

- Heavier Light Trucks (LDT2)

First Year of Regulation

MY2011

MY2009

Interim Standards Required

Yes

Yes

Interim Standards Specified

No

Yes

Year of Full Implementation

MY2020

MY2016

A second key question in comparing the two programs is their timing. Assuming

California’s estimates of the fuel economy resulting from its GHG program are accurate,13

then it seems unlikely that federal CAFE standards would exceed the fuel economy

increases expected from California’s program (Figure 1). As was stated above, the

federal standards do not start to phase in until MY2011, while the California standards

begin two years earlier. Second, while the California program explicitly defines interim

standards, with most of the increase required in first four years (MY2009-MY2012), P.L.

110-140 does not specify what the interim federal standards should be, only that there

must be interim standards. Assuming CARB’s analysis is accurate, California’s program

will require in 2016 higher fuel economy than required by the federal program four years

later.

Future Actions. In addition to the above established programs, future actions will

likely affect the interactions between California’s vehicle GHG program and federal

programs. On September 27, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB32. This law

commits California to additional GHG reductions beyond those required under AB1493.

CARB has announced proposed vehicle standards that would apply for MY2017 through

MY2020. If promulgated, these standards would be more stringent than those under the

current California program.14 However, like the standards under AB1493, they would

also require an EPA waiver from the Clean Air Act. Consequently, the result of the

13

As of January 8, 2008, EPA has yet to publish the technical analysis supporting the Agency’s

decision to deny the California’s waiver petition.

14

California estimates that the proposed standards would be equivalent to 43.9 mpg in 2020.

CARB. Op. cit. p. 6.

CRS-6

current challenge to the EPA denial of California’s waiver request will likely affect the

outcome of the proposed changes to California’s program.15

Figure 1. Estimated Fleet Average Fuel Economy (mpg) From CAFE

and California’s Vehicle GHG Program

45

40

35

30

25

20

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

California

California (Phase 2)

CAFE Scenario 1

CAFE Scenario 2

Sources: California estimates: CARB. Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Reductions Under CAFE

Standards and ARB Regulations Adopted Pursuant to AB1493. January 2, 2008. p. 6; CAFE

Scenarios: CRS estimates of California’s average fuel economy under CAFE with a geometric

increase to 35.7 mpg from current levels (CAFE 1) and a linear increase (CAFE 2).

On April 2, 2007, in the case Massachusetts v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court found

that EPA has the authority to regulate GHGs from new motor vehicles, and the

responsibility to do so unless EPA finds that GHGs do not “endanger public health and

welfare.”16 Assuming that EPA concludes that new standards are necessary, the agency

may issue its own vehicle GHG standards in the future. However, Executive Order 13432

requires coordination among agencies with respect to vehicle GHG emissions regulation.17

Therefore, it seems likely that any future action by EPA will be taken in coordination with

DOT on new standards.

15

For example, it is possible that EPA could find that the new standards are more stringent than

the CAFE standards, and thus grant California the waiver. On the other hand, EPA could

maintain that no compelling need for the standards exist at the state level, and that fuel economy

and vehicle GHG emissions should continue to be regulated at the federal level.

16

See CRS Report RS22665, The Supreme Court's Climate Change Decision: Massachusetts v.

EPA.

17

The White House. Executive Order 13432: Cooperation Among Agencies in Protecting the

Environment with Respect to Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Motor Vehicles, Nonroad

Vehicles, and Nonroad Engines. May 14, 2007.