White House announces answer to Massachusetts

On May 14, 2007, President Bush instructed the EPA, DOT, DOE and USDA to work together to reduce gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the President's Twenty in Ten plan to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years. The instruction was partly in response to the Massachusetts vs. EPA Supreme Court decision in which the Court held that EPA had authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide.

These federal departments and EPA are to develop and implement regulations that 1) "reform and modernize" the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for cars and 2) increase the use of alternative fuels. Both of these are aimed at reducing gasoline consumption in the United States.

As for carbon dioxide, the President's annoucement stated that the federal departments and EPA are to "take the first steps toward regulations . . . that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner, and our nation more secure for generations to come."

The federal bodies must complete all of these regulations by the end of 2008.