WASHINGTON — Tougher fuel-economy rules, blocked for years by Detroit automakers, now stand their best chance of clearing Congress amid heightened concern about gas prices and global warming.
"It will happen," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) predicted Monday.
But that's not to say the fight is over.
Environmental groups hope to strengthen the legislation, which would create higher miles-per-gallon standards, as it moves through Congress. The auto industry and United Auto Workers contend that the measure is too drastic and warn it could deny consumers the sport utility vehicles and pickups they want, damaging an important sector of the economy.
The measure would boost fleetwide average fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, up from 25 mpg. It would increase standards by 4% a year from 2021 to 2030. If passed, it would be the first increase in standards for passenger cars in about 18 years. The first increase could come in model year 2011.
Tougher regulations are the centerpiece of energy legislation that the Senate began debating Monday. The bill, which is expected to draw bipartisan support, is the Democratic majority's first major legislative effort to address global warming and U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
"Achieving the increases in this bill is doable with present technology," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), one of the bill's chief sponsors. "And I believe it has a realistic chance to pass the United States Senate and hopefully be enacted into law."
The bill would also ramp up domestic production of alternative fuels, from about 7 billion gallons projected this year to 36 billion gallons by 2022. It would authorize funding for projects to capture greenhouse gases emitted by power plants and other polluters. It would promote energy efficiency in such products as light bulbs and big-screen TVs. And it would make gasoline price-gouging a federal offense during a president-declared emergency; a recently passed House measure contains a similar provision.
Lawmakers are expected to seek to add to the bill a requirement that by 2020, utilities produce 15% of their electricity from alternative sources, such as solar and wind power.
Other legislation to address global warming, such as a contentious proposal for a mandatory cap on emissions, is to be considered later this year.
