The failure to develop an environmentally friendly energy policy that seriously lessens America’s dependence on foreign oil remains a permanent stain on the Bush administration’s record. Responding to the administration’s gross negligence, California took the lead by passing emissions standards that require significantly higher mileage from new vehicles. Sixteen other states, including Rhode Island, signed onto California’s higher standards, which would increase automobile fuel economy to 43.7 miles a gallon by 2016. These states make up 40 percent of the U.S. car market.

California has thus far been unable to obtain Environmental Protection Agency approval for its tougher requirements. Although the Clean Air Act lets states issue tougher requirements — and with the Los Angeles region’s famously polluted air, California had every reason to — EPA Administrator Steve Johnson denied California the waiver to proceed. That decision has been challenged in the courts.

Now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has come out with a weaker set of improved mileage standards. Buried in its 417-page proposal is a clause that quashes any efforts by California or another state to impose higher standards. So much for the conservative principle that favors reducing the power of the federal government and expanding that of the states — a doctrine to which President Bush has given much lip service but subverted when it conflicted with the administration’s other positions and political alliances.

Part of the U.S. Department of Energy, the NHTSA probably wouldn’t be calling for better mileage at all had Congress not forced the issue in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. That bill demanded an industry fleet average of at least 35 mpg for both passenger cars and “light trucks.” The latter category outrageously includes SUVs — thus encouraging the production of what are actually notably fuel-inefficient glorified station wagons — i.e., cars. This marked the first mandated improvement in fuel economy since 1975, when Congress set up the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program following the Arab oil embargo.

In the 2007 model year, carmakers averaged 31.3 mpg for cars and 23.1 mpg for light trucks. The latter, though declining in sales, still account for more than half of all vehicles sold in the United States.

With the American economy seemingly chained to rising oil prices, and the world threatened by global warming, there is growing political will to make a forceful effort to cut our use of fossil fuels. High oil prices are becoming an economic disaster. All three major presidential candidates — Republican John McCain and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — have demanded higher fuel-efficiency standards than required under the new federal law.

A year from now the Bush administration will be out of the way, and we hope that America will then surge forward in the quest to free itself from the tyranny of oil.