Will CA be able to raise CO2 emissions standards for cars?

After years of outright denial and foot-dragging at the Bush-Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), incoming administrator Lisa Jackson will reconsider granting California's request for a waiver to the federal Clean Air Act so that the state can increase its standards for passenger vehicle CO2 emissions. The EPA has set a public hearing on March 5 and will take public comments through April 6, 2009.

That’s great news for California which may finally be able to implement its 2002 vehicular greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions reduction law, part of the state’s strategy to reduce ghg emissions from cars and light trucks by 30 percent by 2016.

And it’s great news for the 13 other states who have adopted Calfornia’s regulations.

And for the entire nation, too. In the U.S. passenger vehicles make up approximately 20% of all U.S. C02 emissions. Granting California the ability to lead the way on the strongest automobile ghg standards will open the doors for healthier communities and environment, and cleaner, more fuel efficient cars on the road throughout the nation.
California is the largest automobile market in the U.S., accounting for 1.4 million new cars and light trucks in 2008 (even with a dramatic economic downturn), and home to the worst air quality in the country. Its environmental policies are necessary leadership.

Photo courtesy of BreathLA (flickr).