Question on fuel efficiency standards

I remember reading recently that there was something in the new energy bill that encouraged a slight increase in fuel efficiency, but actually discouraged it over a certain point. Has anyone seen an article about this? I'm fairly sure I read it online.

Is this just some product of my fevered imagination? I swear I saw it!

Little help?

If only to tell me I'm crazy. Has anyone heard of this? Does anyone know it to be false? Does anyone actually care about this aspect of the energy bill?

I promise this is my last self-kick. I'll just let it die and assume ignorance or apathy.

Quite the opposite. That would mean less fuel and that goes counter to the Halliburtons and Dick Cheney will have none of that!

Which encouraged a slight increase in fuel efficiency, but actually amounted to a penalty for auto companies which increased efficiency above a certain point. I think the automakers pushed for this to keep their gas-guzzlers "competitive."

July 29, 2003 by the Associated Press

Senate Rejects Tough New Auto Fuel Economy Measure
Approves Auto Industry's Bill

by H Joseph Hebert

WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected a proposal to require a sharp increase in automobile fuel economy Tuesday after concerns were raised that it would lead to a loss of auto industry jobs and limit consumer's ability to buy larger cars and SUVs.

By a 65-32 vote, the Senate turned back a proposal offered by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that would have required automakers to produce a fleet average of 40 miles per gallon by 2015, a dramatic increase from the current 27.5 mpg now required.

Instead, senators approved by a 66-30 vote an industry-supported measure that turned the issue over to the Transportation Department, which will be required to take into consideration an array of issues - from job losses and highway safety to economic impact on U.S. auto manufacturers - before any rule change can be made.

This would "create unnecessary hurdles to any significant increases" in fuel economy by the transportation agency, argued Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and open any future fuel economy decisions to an increasing number of court challenges.

"We are going backwards," said Bingaman.

The measure, offered by Sens. Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., prescribes no specific, mandated increase in corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE.

It's not quite as I remember it, and it was a more recent article I read, but those seem to be the right points: significant increases are made more rather than less difficult.

Thank you.