Environment DEC
From the December 2007 issue
New York Joins Car-emissions Lawsuit
New York joined in a multi-state lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for delaying a decision on whether to allow states to aggressively reduce car and truck emissions, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis recently announced.
Stalled EPA Wavier Sparks Suit
The states seek to follow a California plan that would require all new vehicles models sold there to cut greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2009; the goal would be to reduce emissions approximately 20 percent by 2020, varying by state. But California and other states need a federal waiver from the EPA to implement the new standards. EPA has had the California waiver request for nearly two years without making a decision, prompting the lawsuit.
Choosing alternative fuel sources like E-85 is one way to reduce harmful gasoline emissions
"The Bush Administration is the only obstacle standing in the way of action by the states to reduce motor vehicle emissions that cause climate change. If EPA is not going to do its job and protect our environment from climate change, it should get out of the way and let the states act," Grannis said.
California filed its lawsuit in federal court in Washington D.C. recently, with New York joining shortly thereafter. Other states expected to join the suit were Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Supreme Court Decisions Support New Standards
Two recent court decisions on related matters have boosted the states' push on automobile emissions standards. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA can regulate carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, as an air pollutant. In October, a federal judge ruled against an automobile industry lawsuit that attempted to throw out Vermont's new emissions regulations, which are similar to California's and New York's.
"Motor vehicles are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in New York and throughout the Northeast,'' Grannis said. "Action by the states to reduce these emissions is an essential part of an effective strategy to deal with global climate change."
Key to Mitigating Climate Change
Reducing automobile emissions is a key piece of Governor Eliot Spitzer's efforts to mitigate climate change. Earlier this year, the Governor unveiled his "15 x 15" plan to reduce energy use by 15 percent from forecasted levels by the year 2015 through new energy efficiency programs intended to reduce energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. The governor has also advanced a new, cutting-edge plan to cap power plant emissions and signed legislation to require new vehicles, beginning with the 2010 model year, to feature a "global warming index," much like a price sticker, that evaluates emissions. The administration has also announced legislation that will offer direct incentives to homeowners who build or renovate homes meeting "green building" criteria, and has announced that, beginning next year, all new state construction projects managed by the Dormitory Authority will meet "green building" standards.
