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    House Looks to Overturn EPA on California Emissions
    By Monisha Bansal
    CNSNews.com

    Friday 07 March 2008

    House Democrats introduced legislation Thursday that would overturn an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision barring California from setting its own emissions standards for automobiles.

    Last spring, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could set their own regulations on the emission of carbon dioxide. The California emissions standards, were scheduled to take effect in model year 2009, would require a 30 percent fleet-wide reduction in emissions by 2016. Vehicles sold in California would have to meet those standards.

    Twelve other states have said they also want to raise their standards: Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. The governors of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Utah have also committed to the standards.

    "The EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, has a history of stonewalling on this issue," said Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) at a Capitol Hill press conference on Thursday to introduce the bill. "Their policy is to just say no. They've said no to the states. They've said no to their own scientists. They've said no to common sense.

    "It's time for EPA to lead, follow, or get out of the way," he said.

    Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) said the EPA should stand for the "End Protection Agency, because they ended protection for the environment, they ended protection for the consumer pocketbook and they ended protection for the health and well-being of Californians and across the country."

    Welch introduced the Right to Clean Vehicles Act with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) along with 58 cosponsors. Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) is the only Republican backing the bill.

    "California has applied for a waiver (to the Clean Air Act) 54 times - 53 have been granted," Sherman said. "For the first time ever, California has been denied a waiver." He blamed the administration for not allowing California and other states to deal with two greenhouse gas emissions and the economic impact of the cost of oil.

    With oil at $106 per barrel, consumers are facing the "most punishing prices ever to fill up their cars," Welch added.

    Calling it an "urgent economic issue," Welch said his bill would "put money in the pocket of American families and American consumers."

    "Nothing would do America more good in terms of balance of payments, economy and lowering the price of oil than getting better mileage from our cars," said Sherman.

    Charlie Territo, director of communications for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, however, told Cybercast News Service , "Vehicles today are already 99 percent cleaner for smog-forming emissions than vehicles 30 years ago, thanks in part to the federal emissions standards.

    "In December, Congress passed a landmark energy bill that contained fuel economy increases of 40 percent and a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from new autos," he noted.

    "If they wanted to do more they should have passed a better bill," Myron Ebell, director of energy and global warming policy at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, said.

    "We believe that a national fuel economy program is important to avoiding the confusion, inefficiency and uncertainty for automakers and consumers that a state-by-state fuel economy program would create," said Territo.

    But Shea-Porter said this legislation is what the American consumers want. "American people will demand the change," she said.

    "Currently, manufacturers offer over 70 models of alternative fuel automobiles," Territo countered.

    "In addition, there are more than 100 models available that achieve fuel economy ratings of more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway. However, last year more than 53 percent of all new vehicles purchased were minivans, vans, SUVs and pick-ups," Territo said.

    "While fuel economy is an important attribute to some consumers, it is not the only attribute they consider when purchasing a new vehicle," he said, noting that if the waiver is granted it would "absolutely" limit consumer choice.

    "These regulations are based on what consumers purchase," Territo said. "In more than 40 states, consumers currently purchase more minivans, vans, SUVs and pick-ups than passenger cars. Particularly, consumers in those states would see restrictions in the types of vehicles offered."

    Ebell noted that greenhouse gas emissions are not exclusive to California, so a waiver should not be granted because carbon dioxide emissions anywhere in the world would have just as much of an impact. He added he does not believe the legislation is likely to pass.

    "Obviously, it's not going to be easy to pass this in the House and even more difficult in the Senate," Sherman acknowledged. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will take up the bill, though the committee's chairman, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) supported the EPA's decision to block the waiver.