Obama admin drives ahead with new cleaner gas rule

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is moving forward with a dramatic reduction in sulfur in gasoline and tighter emissions standards for cars, arguing the move will eventually save thousands of lives per year.

The oil and gas industry warns the Environmental Protection Agency rules are unnecessary and will drive up gas prices. The rules will also add to the cost of buying a car.

The rules have been in the works for years but are being finalized Monday. They’ll start taking effect in 2017. The administration says it has built flexibility in so that refineries and others have time to adapt.

The EPA says gas prices should increase by only less than a penny. But an oil industry study puts the increase at 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon.

JOSH LEDERMAN, the Associated Press