As soon as tomorrow, the Obama administration will announce new national fuel efficiency standards for all cars and light trucks. Regulations will no longer be determined at the state level. The announcement, leaked by industry officials to the New York Times, will greatly update the current system.

[The regulation] will combine California’s tough new auto-emissions rules with the existing corporate average fuel economy standard to create a single new national standard, the officials said. As a result, cars and light trucks sold in the United States will be roughly 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016.

The California emissions standards had actually been rejected by the Bush administration for being too strict, so personally, I think it’s awesome that they are now being installed nationally. Under the new rules, “the national fleet mileage rule for cars would be roughly 42 miles a gallon,” with light trucks around 26, while the current standards are 27.5 and 24, respectively.

Because this jump in standards is so large, and for the first time, national, Daniel Becker of the Safe Climate Campaign might not be exaggerating when he says, “This is the single biggest step the American government has ever taken to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.” Car companies are cool with the rule, too, as it finally gives them certainty and a clear timetable. Also, I’m pretty sure they’re not in the best position to argue these days.