On Friday, November 30 the Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives reached consensus on a bill to raise fuel efficiency standards 40 percent above the current levels by the year 2020.

The measure represents a compromise between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Michigan Rep. John Dingell, a staunch advocate for Detroit automakers. The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard would be 35 mpg by 2020.

In a further concession to lobbying by Detroit carmakers who have protested that the efficiency levels being debated by Congress are unrealistic, separate standards would be established for light trucks and cars under the measure. A vote is expected as soon as December 5.

In a statement about the agreement Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said, "This landmark energy legislation will offer the automobile industry the certainty it needs while offering flexibility to automakers and ensuring we keep American manufacturing jobs and continued domestic production for smaller vehicles."

In remarks about the concession Dingell said it would save some 17,000 jobs at domestic assembly plants and will increase incentives for automakers to develop vehicles that operate on biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel.

According to reports by Reuters, the bill would require that 20.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels be integrated into the U.S. motor fuel supply by the year 2015 with 5.5 billion of that amount being derived from non-food sources.