Would Dingell’s Legislation Overturn Mass v EPA?  by Marlo Lewis
on June 13, 2007  in Environment, Global Warming  Last week
(June 7, 2007), a panel of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee held a hearing on Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and
Subcommittee Chair Rick Boucher’s (D-VA) discussion-draft
legislation concerning alternative fuels, infrastructure, and
vehicles. The bill is laden with mandates and new spending
authority. Several prominent Democrats along with California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have declared their opposition to the
bill. Among other provisions, the bill would:    • Compel
refiners, blenders, and importers to sell 35 billion gallons per
year of “alternative” motor fuels by 2025;   • Establish a
first-ever low-carbon standard for motor fuels;   • Increase
fuel economy standards from 27.5 to 36 mpg by 2021 for passenger
cars (a 31% increase) and from 20.7 to 30 mpg by 2024 for SUVs
and other light trucks (a 35% increase);   • Establish an
escalating production quota for vehicles capabl