http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2004/2004-09-27-09.asp#anchor5
SACRAMENTO, California, September 27, 2004 (ENS) –
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) Friday approved a regulation that requires automakers to begin selling vehicles with reduced greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2009. It applies to new passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.
ARB Chairman Dr. Alan Lloyd said, "This landmark decision sets a course for California that is likely to be copied throughout the U.S. and other countries."
According to ARB staff, the average reduction of greenhouse gases from new California cars and light trucks will be about 22 percent in 2012 and about 30 percent in 2016, compared to today's vehicles.
The regulation is also expected to cut smog forming pollution by about five tons per day by 2020.
Costs for the added technology needed to meet the rule are expected to average about $325 per vehicle in 2012 and about $1050 per vehicle to comply in 2016.
The new rule will result in savings for vehicle buyers by lowering operating expenses that will more than offset the added costs of the new vehicles and provide an overall cost savings to consumers, an ARB staff analysis concludes.
The ARB staff proposal will be costly to Californians.
An independent analysis conducted by Sierra Research found that when all costs are considered, not just the ones selected by ARB staff, the proposed regulations would add at least $3,000 more to the cost of new cars in California.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers appeared before the ARB Friday to argue that the regulation will increase the cost of automobiles for Californians with no resulting air quality improvement. "We’re disappointed that California regulators have chosen to single out California drivers to pay a $3,000 surcharge with no apparent health or environmental benefit to its citizens," said Fred Webber, president & CEO of the Alliance.
The Alliance points to many fuel-efficient technologies already available to Californians.
The American Lung Association of California applauded the ARB for taking action to protect public health by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"California already experiences the worst air quality in the country and global warming will only make our pollution problems worse. Elevated smog levels that are expected to result from global warming may cause or exacerbate serious health problems, including damage to lung tissue, reduced lung function, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and increased hospitalizations for people with cardiac and respiratory illnesses," the Lung Association said.
The Lung Association called on all car companies "to embrace California's landmark clean car regulation, listen to their customers who continue to request cleaner cars, and step up their production of hybrid-electric, natural gas and other cleaner vehicles."
A poll sponsored by the American Lung Association of California found that 87 percent of California adults say that it is very or somewhat important for California to take a leading role in enforcing laws to reduce car emissions that lead to global warming pollution.
ARB Chairman Dr. Lloyd said, "Because of its forward-thinking approach, the ARB has established itself as the world leader in setting motor vehicle pollution control standards. Those standards have led to automotive technologies that dominate the way cars are built today and have significantly cut air pollution's public health risk. This regulation will have the same impact."
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