Obama discusses gas mileage standards in climate change speech

(Photo: Saif Pervaiz / Flickr)(Photo: Saif Pervaiz / Flickr)

President Obama discussed higher standards for automobile gas mileage yesterday in his climate change policy speech, which took place at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., according to a report from The Hill.

Obama said the climate proposal he unveiled is based on the requirement that cars get a minimum of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, a rule that the Administration finalized last year.

The idea behind the plan is that an increase in mileage will reduce the amount of emissions automobiles produce.

The gas mileage rules requires automakers to begin producing vehicles with more miles per gallon in 2017. The 54.5-miles-per-gallon minimum requirement will take effect in 2025.

The Obama Administration anticipates the rules will offer fuel cost savings of more than $8,000 per vehicles by 2025.