The New York Times says President Obama will order a review of an EPA decision that struck down California's proposed vehicle emissions standards.

Obama's memo does not reverse the denial issued in 2007 by EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. But it shows that the issues of energy efficiency and conservation have Obama's attention.

Automotive emissions and fuel efficiency standards are established by federal law. The Clean Air Act lets California, which has air quality problems because of geography and human activities, apply for waivers to set stricter emissions standards. The Times says the proposed regulations would, by 2016, increase car and light truck fuel efficiency from an average of 27 mpg to 35 mpg. Emissions would be cut by one-third.

Automakers argued against the standards by claiming that they'd be forced to produce two sets of vehicles. They preferred a national standard.

It's tough to take that argument seriously. They should just make one set of vehicles that meet the highest standards. Given that 13 other states, including New York, want to adopt the California standard - which federal law allows - they'd wind up doing that anyway. After all, numerous Congresses and several presidents have failed to toughen emissions or fuel efficiency standards. That's left California to serve as the de facto policy-maker, at least on emissions.

The Washington Post also reports that Obama will order the Department of Transportation to implement a federal guideline that requires automakers to achieve average fuel mileage of 35 mpg by 2020.