California Gets Clean Air Act Waiver from EPA, 13 Other States also get nod from EPA
California and thirteen other states received the Clean Air Act Waiver from the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The plan allows CA and the other states to impose their emission guidelines until 2012. It will also serve as a transition and preparation phase for the 2016 implementation of the 35.5mpg fuel efficiency requirement of the national government.
California started to adopt their own tougher rules compared to the federal government in 2004. The Bush administration through the EPA denied the state government of California to impose the stiffer rules.
The U.S. Congress proposed in 2007 to adjust the standard to 35mpg by 2010. With the expected ramp up of these figures, the auto industry will have to shoulder billions in research, development, and production to comply with the disparate figures.
The new standards of the National government are now in line with the path California is taking. Reduction of emissions by as much as 30% will allow car manufacturers to comply in a more cost effective way. This also helps in avoiding vehicle prices to skyrocket.
The waiver also requires the state to hold back on imposing tougher emissions until through 2017. This side of the deal will result to dropping of several cases filed by automakers against Califonia – green cars work!.
The compliance of the car makers in the tougher rules of the 14 states will not really have a big effect on the market today. Vehicle manufacturers have been releasing units which are below the required emission.
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Recent Comments