Dual-fuel program aids auto industry

The energy bill President Bush signed into law Monday will give incentives to automakers to produce “dual-fuel” vehicles for at least 10 years, quashing a lawsuit that threatened to bring the program to an end.

In a lawsuit filed last year, Public Citizen, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Center for Auto Safety argued that the dual-fuel loophole has increased oil consumption, by allowing major automakers to underwrite more sales of gas guzzlers with the CAFE credits they earn.

The lawsuit challenging the program was dismissed Thursday.

“In theory, we’re not against a program like this,” said Nicole St. Clair, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “In practice, when there’s no way for people to use the alternative fuel, then it’s just a giveaway to the automakers.”

Detroit News