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California Legislature |
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Environmenal News Service
The California Climate Bill (AB 1493) empowers the California Air Resources Board to set standards for California's passenger vehicles, including cars, light duty trucks and other noncommercial vehicles, to "achieve the maximum feasible reduction of greenhouse gases" by January 1, 2005. After a public policy hearing, the new regulations would go into effect for the 2009 model year. At least 41 of the 80 member California Assembly had to vote in favor of the bill for it to pass. The bill squeaked by on a 41 to 30 vote, with nine members not voting. Most of the 50 Democrats in the Assembly voted to pass the bill, while most of the 30 Republicans opposed the bill. As the California Senate already passed the bill with a 23 to 16 vote on Saturday, the bill now heads to Governor Davis for his consideration. In the past, Davis has said he supports such legislation, and Steven Maviglio, a spokesperson for Davis, said the governor called the bill "good public policy." Several amendments were added to the bill over the past week, which Maviglio said Governor Davis has not yet had a chance to review. "I will read all the amendments when the bill arrives on my desk before making a final decision," Davis said through his spokesperson. The federal Clean Air Act gives California the unique ability to set its own standards on auto emissions - standards that can then be followed by the rest of the nation. California therefore has the opportunity to ensure that other states will have the choice to opt to include greenhouse gas emissions limits in their air pollution regulations. "If we do it in California it will set the term nationwide. California is such a big seller of cars, there's no way in the world they're going to make a clean car for California and dirty cars for other places," said Democratic state Senator and Senate President Pro Tem John Burton. Environmental Defense, a member of a broad coalition of environmental, religious and consumer groups that have pushed for passage of the California Climate Bill, called the measure the most important climate bill passed anywhere in the U.S. in the past two decades.
"In the wake of the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change by the European Union and Japan, we think California is sending a powerful message to the global environmental community - Americans care about climate change and are willing to take meaningful steps to address it," said Fred Krupp, executive director of Environmental Defense.
California, the world's fifth largest economy, is home to about 24 million motor vehicles, which are responsible for about 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gas pollution. The state has the strictest air quality standards in the nation, and requires cleaner fuel than any other state. The bill passed by the Legislature is a variation of an earlier bill, AB 1048, that was stalled by an intensive, three month campaign by the auto industry. Industry advertisements warned that passage of the earlier bill would lead to outlawing of trucks and sport utility vehicles, force crippling new fees or taxes on new vehicles, or require the state to reduce speed limits to help cut vehicle emissions. The bill "would greatly increase the costs of owning and driving vehicles in California, including everything from family and work vehicles to sports cars and motorcycles," stated the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which opposes the bill. "As a result of this legislation, some of the best selling models may effectively be banned for sale in California." The Air Resources Board, which will be responsible for crafting regulations to meet the new law's requirements, has said it does not have the authority to create new taxes or take any of the other steps that the industry has feared. To help alleviate industry concerns, the state Senate created a new version of the bill that specifically bars the Air Resources Board from mandating smaller, lighter vehicles, instituting new taxes on fuel or vehicles, or reducing speed limits. By offering a new bill, the Senate also made an end run around the delaying tactics taken by Republicans in the state Legislature in response to industry concerns. Critics, including Republican Assemblymember George Runner, argued that "the public was just not aware" of the new bill, and should have had more time to comment on the measure. "This is not the way we should be doing business, in the dead of night, on the weekend," Runner said. But supporters said the move was necessary in the face of the massive "smear campaign" against the bill sponsored by the auto industry. "In the long term, we'll all be served by cleaner air and reducing global warning," said Democratic Assemblymember Dario Frommer. "We have four of the dirtiest cities in the nation in this state. It is time for us to lead the nation in a responsible and measured approach, which is what we have in this bill." The bill gives supporters of cleaner, more efficient vehicles a back door into nationwide regulations requiring higher fuel efficiency. Earlier this year, the U.S. Congress rejected a measure that would have set higher gas mileage standards for passenger vehicles. The California bill is aimed narrowly at carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but one of the easiest ways for automakers to reduce tailpipe carbon emissions is to increase fuel efficiency, reducing the amount of fossil fuel burned per mile of travel. California's bill could lead to higher fuel efficiency standards for one of the nation's largest vehicle markets - impacting vehicles sold across the nation as well, as automakers develop new technology to meet California's standards. Republican Assemblymember Dennis Hollingsworth argued that the bill "will cost lives" if automakers pass their research and development costs on to consumers, because it will "price people out of the market." "So they will keep their older cars, which do not have the safety features of newer cars," Hollingsworth said. Environmental groups said the technology to meet California's new standards by 2009 already exists, and that auto industry protests over other pollution cutting rules have not harmed the industry. For example, California has cut smog forming pollution from passenger vehicles by over 90 percent, without restricting vehicle choice or reducing sales - in fact, sales of sport utility vehicles in the state are at an all time high. "Cleaner vehicle technologies have been available for years," said Russell Long, executive director of Bluewater Network, one of the bill's sponsors. "Establishing greenhouse gas standards will finally get these technologies off the shelves and into our cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks, giving motorists more and better choices." The bill gives automakers flexibility in meeting emissions targets, allowing them to earn emissions credits by reducing their carbon dioxide emissions before the 2009 deadline. These credits can be sold to other companies that still need to cut their vehicle emissions, reducing the amount of real emissions cuts they must make. Simple technological improvements, such as better insulation on fuel lines and tanks, and tighter seals on crankcases and air conditioners, will also help automakers meet the new standards. "Automakers have been fighting rules requiring cleaner, safer cars for 40 years. But when the time comes to deliver the technology, they've succeeded every time," said Ann Notthoff, California Advocacy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a sponsor of the bill. "AB 1493 sends a clear message to Detroit that that it's time to step up to the plate." "This law is a giant leap in the fight for cleaner cars," Notthoff added. "It will put us on the road to a cooler, safer climate for the people of California." |
Gov. Gray Davis supports the bill to reduce auto emssions in California 
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