EPA Grants Calif. Waiver on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday granted California permission to set its own standards on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.
California had asked EPA for the right to establish more stringent standards for greenhouse gases in 2005, which was ultimately rejected by the Bush administration.
President Obama, in one of his first actions upon taking office in January, ordered the agency to reconsider California’s request, and his administration last month announced a first-ever national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States, covering model years 2012-2016.
At that time, although heavy trucks were not immediately affected, an industry official suggested similar changes could be coming within the next decade. (Click here for previous story.)
Thirteen other states and the District of Columbia have adopted California’s clean car standards.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) applauded the ruling in a statement, saying the “decision is a huge step for our emerging green economy that will create thousands of new jobs and bring Californians the cars they want while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
