In an effort to curb global warming emissions from cars and trucks, California and 12 other states want to be allowed to set their own fuel economy standards, which would override federal rules. Such a move would threaten the existence of U.S. automakers, said Rep. John Dingell (DMI) on the floor of the North American International Auto Show held in Detroit in January. Rep. Dingell is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The rule proposed by California would set a standard of roughly 40.5 mpg by 2016 for most cars and some trucks, compared to the standard of 35 mpg by 2020 approved by Congress in December. The EPA has denied California's request to put its rule in place.

Dingell said that the decision by EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson "makes good sense," and that if California and the other states proceed, the regulation will be "a terrible, terrible problem for everybody concerned. It will get so expensive that people won't be able to buy, and it will get so difficult the companies won't be able to produce anyway." The auto industry has united in opposition to the California rule.

Dingell is working to produce a bill setting up a carbon-control system known as cap and trade that would cover the entire U.S. economy. While such a system will likely aim to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% by 2050, Dingell said the auto industry would be exempt thanks to the new fuel economy rules.

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