WASHINGTON -- The White House is close to finalizing a landmark rewrite of U.S. fuel efficiency standards through the 2026 model year, boosting annual requirements but at a considerably lower rate than under Obama-era standards, three people briefed on the matter said on Wednesday.
The Trump administration plans to unveil the final rules by Tuesday ahead of an April 1 deadline to revise the 2022 model year, the sources said.
In August 2018, the Trump administration proposed freezing fuel economy standards at 2020 levels through 2026 reversing Obama-era standards that called for about a 5 percent annual increase during the period.
A draft final proposal circulated by the administration this year proposed increase requirements by about 1.5 percent per year and the final rule is expected to be similar, the sources said.
The requirements, being written by two federal agencies, are aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and improving the fue…