Progress

EPA to Require Cleaner Gasoline

Will cut the amount of sulfur in gas by two thirds.

Despite tough opposition from the oil industry and some conservative Democrats, the Environmental Protection Agency moved ahead with a proposal Friday requiring cleaner gasoline and cars. The rules will cut the amount of sulfur in gasoline by two thirds and impose fleetwide pollution limits on new cars by 2017. The proposals, which have been stalled by political opposition since December 2011, have the support of auto companies, environmental groups, state regulators, and equipment manufacturers. Unsurprisingly, oil-industry officials and some members of Congress maintain that the rules would only raise gasoline prices and could result in greater carbon-dioxide emissions because of increased refining.