WASHINGTON, DC — The Obama administration today took the wraps off its proposed national standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel efficiency for heavy duty trucks and buses -- the first measures for such vehicles in the U.S.

The proposed standards call for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption for three categories of heavy trucks starting in the 2014 model year model year and running through the 2018 model year, when emissions and fuel consumption reductions are to range from 10 to 20 percent depending on the truck category and the type of fuel consumed.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson introduced the proposed standards, which are subject to a 60-day public comment period, in a news conference.

The EPA and the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate that implementation of the standards will reduce GHG emissions by 250 million metric tons and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced during the first five years of the program --i.e. model years 2014 through 2018 inclusive.

The federal agencies also estimate that the program will provide $41 billion in net benefits over the lifetime of vehicles manufactured for model years 2014 to 2018. The savings were projected against potential fuel efficiency gains of 7 to 20 percent. For example, Jackson said, the operator of a semi truck could pay for technology upgrades costing $5,900 in under a year as a result of the payback created by fuel savings -- and save as much as $74,000 over the vehicle's useful life.

The proposed standards for the three types of heavy trucks -- combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles -- were devised to target challenges that manufacturers face in each category, Jackson said.

The proposed measures for:

• Combination tractors involve engine and vehicle standards that call for the vehicles to achieve up to a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption by the 2018 model year.
• Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans involve different standards for trucks using gasoline and diesel fuel. Gas-powered vehicles are to achieve up to a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption and diesel vehicles, a 15 percent reduction, by model year 2018. Gasoline vehicle also are to achieve a 12 percent reduction in GHG emissions, and diesel vehicles at 17 percent reduction, by model year 2018.
• Vocational vehicles -- which include garbage, utility, delivery, dump, cement and tow trucks; transit, shuttle and school buses; emergency vehicles and more -- involve engine and vehicle standards. Vocational vehicles are to achieve up to a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 2018 model year.

"This is a win-win-win for the environment, businesses and the American consumer," LaHood said of the proposed standards, adding that they help reduce the country's dependence on oil, increase climate security and improve air quality.

Next Page: The BlueGreen Alliance and the ACEEE speak out.