Obama gives clean cars green light
EPA revisiting California’s Clean Cars Program
On just his sixth day in office, President
Barack Obama announced support for California’s
Clean Cars Program. This move
was celebrated by Environment California,
a lead supporter of the program.
The president directed the U.S. EPA to
reconsider California’s request to implement
regulations that cut down on warming
emissions from cars and trucks—regulations
that had been blocked by Bush
administration officials in 2008.
The Clean Cars Program, created in
California in 2002 and since adopted
by 14 other states, establishes tougher
standards for cars, and will help put more
hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles
on the road. But in order for those higher
standards to be put in place, the EPA has
to approve them.
To overcome auto industry resistance to
the program, Environment California
generated public comments to the EPA
and spoke at public hearings. To date,
8,000 Californians have called on the
EPA to support Clean Cars.
A major reversal
President Obama’s stance differs drastically
from the last administration’s. Not only
did the Bush administration block clean
car standards, but former White House
officials joined with the auto industry in
suing California over these regulations.
In response to President Obama’s announcement,
Environment California joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
and top environmental leaders to express
their support of the president’s move.
“After being stuck in reverse for eight
years when it comes to clean energy
and global warming, President Obama
has taken America from zero to 60 in
six days,” said Clean Energy Advocate
Bernadette Del Chiaro. “This move
shows that science and not special interests
are once again in the driver’s seat
in America.”
The Clean Cars Program is a cornerstone
of California’s plan to reach its 2020
greenhouse gas cap. The regulations are
expected reduce tailpipe emissions 30
percent by 2016, and save Californians
$30 per month at the pump.
THIS JUST IN!
On May 19, California environmentalists and policy
makers celebrated as President Obama announced that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation will
establish a uniform federal standard to reduce global warming pollution
from cars and light trucks and improve vehicle efficiency. The
standard, which will be the first ever federal global warming standard
for vehicles, will largely mirror the standard already adopted by
California and 13 other states.
