White House officials — including Obama himself — have touted the rules as an example of progress on oil reliance and emissions even in the absence of a sweeping climate and energy bill, which collapsed in the Senate over the summer.
The 2012-2016 rules that DOT and EPA completed this year boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and set carbon emissions requirements that, taken together, create a standard equivalent to 35.5 mpg in 2016. The improvements will eventually save 1.8 billion barrels of oil, according to the administration.