Analysis: IEA stirs old controversies

The Paris-based International Energy Agency recently awarded the United States high marks for its energy policy but warned stronger action is needed to mitigate climate change and decrease foreign oil imports.

Tanaka, IEA’s executive director, commended the increase in fuel-efficiency standards for cars mandated by the 2007 law, but said the deadline for car manufacturers to meet the new standard — 2020 — is too far away.

…If all goes as planned, the average efficiency of new U.S. cars will increase to 35 mpg by 2020. That’s too little, too late, said Andreas Biermann, lead author of the IEA report.

“There are currently technologies on the market that aren’t rocket science that can be put into vehicles without much effort and without much cost to the consumer that can dramatically improve efficiency,” Biermann told United Press International.

… The IEA predicts a small oil shortfall by 2015 that will significantly raise gas prices, he said, leading consumers to put a higher emphasis on gas mileage when they purchase a car.

“U.S. consumers aren’t stupid,” Biermann told UPI. “When gas prices go up, they’ll buy more efficient cars, and right now it doesn’t look like they’ll be coming from the U.S. auto industry, at least not the big three” because they’re not producing the most efficient cars.

Energy Daily