The Obama administration also announced today new federal standards on automobile fuel economy and global warming emissions. These new standards were based on the "clean cars program" developed by California and adopted by 13 other states, including Maine. Maine environmentalists say the new standards could save car owners approximately $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of a new, greener vehicle.

Cars and trucks are the largest source of air pollution in Maine. Vehicle emissions contribute to ozone pollution, acid rain, toxic emissions and global warming.

Since 2001, Maine has had a so-called "clean car program" which sets emissions standards for manufacturers selling cars in Maine dealerships. Along with those of 13 other states, including California, Maine's standards provided the foundation for national scale emissions limits.

"What EPA has done today is a huge advancement -- this is the first national greenhouse gas standard that's adopted and will be enforceable," says David Littell is commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The new national law includes efficiency requirements that translate to an average of 35.5 miles a gallon by 2016.

"If you burn less fuel you produce less greenhouse gas emissions, you also produce less ozone precursors and other air toxics that threaten health," Littel says.

The new requirements also apply to automakers. A company could still manufacture a gas-guzzler, but the standards apply to a fleet average, so automakers would have to make more efficient cars to offset the gas--guzzlers.

The new standards from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation will apply to cars built betwee 2012 and 2016.

Nationally, the program is expected to conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce nearly a billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lives of the vehicles covered.

"This is the most aggressive step that the federal government has ever taken to save oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions and put money back in American pocketbooks," says Jane West, a staff attorney with the Conservation Law Foundation in Maine. "This is the equivalent to permanently removing over 100,000 vehicles from Maine roads. And the savings to Mainers' pocketbooks is to the tune of $157 million dollars at the pump."

Industry and government officials say the new standards could save car owners approximately $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of a new lower-emitting vehicle. They also estimate that reaching the new efficiency level will add about $1,000 to the cost of the average new car by 2016.

Today's announcement responds to a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court mandate. It will carry out the accord President Obama formed last year with major automakers, the governor of California, the United Auto Workers' Union and environmental groups. The accord followed the auto industry's unsuccessful federal lawsuit to block states from setting new rules limiting global warming pollution from cars.

Environmentalists warn that some members of Congress are working to roll back these new standards by weakening the federal Clean Air Act.