Major increase in fuel standards in the works

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

(06-13) 04:00 PDT Washington -- The Senate is weighing the first major increase in federal fuel economy standards since Congress first responded to the oil crisis of the 1970s, part of a new energy bill that Democratic leaders hope to pass in the next few weeks.

The measure would raise fleetwide fuel economy standards by 35 miles per gallon by 2020, up from the 25 miles per gallon average now for cars and trucks. The standards would rise an additional 4 percent every year until 2030.