"The Trump administration is backing away from its proposal to roll back Obama-era rules that push automakers to make vehicles more fuel efficient, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The administration is now considering requiring a 1.5 percent increase in fuel efficiency, compared with the 5 percent annual called for under the Obama rules, according to the Journal, which cited people familiar with the process.

A key component of former President Obama's environmental legacy was focused on strengthening fuel emissions standards for cars to 54.5 mpg by 2026. But the rollback first proposed by the Trump administration in 2018, which an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis said would increase petroleum consumption by 500,000 barrels a day, would freeze the average fuel economy at the current 37 mpg level."

Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill October 31, 2019. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Trump Makes U-Turn On Fuel Economy Standards" (Greenwire $$) [3]

"White House Backing Off Proposed Fuel-Efficiency Freeze" (Wall St. Journal $$) [4]

"Trump Administration Makes U-Turn On Fuel Efficiency Standards" (Washington Post) [5]

"Big Automakers Take Risks In Siding With Trump Administration Against California" (Washington Post) [6]