The U.S. EPA may set limits on GHG emissions associated with gasoline and other transportation fuels, The Wall Street Journal reports.
A 2007 Supreme Court ruling said greenhouse gases could be regulated as pollutants, which some say increased pressure on the EPA to consider more climate change directives. The EPA will seek public and industry comment this week on the Supreme Court ruling.
While mandatory limits on GHG emissions would mark a policy shift in the Bush administration and could mean still higher gas prices, automakers would likely increase efforts to build cleaner, more efficient vehicles as a result.
According to a national greenhouse gas inventory released by the EPA, a 1.1-percent decrease in U.S. emissions in 2006 was due primarily to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption.
Earlier this year the EPA sought public comment on a draft annual report titled "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006 (PDF), that analyzed sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
