Ittook President Barack Obama less than four months in office to reversethe former Bush Administration's longheld policies opposingCalifornia's efforts to enforce tougher vehicle greenhouse emission andfuel efficiency standards.
OnMay 19 Obama announced that not only will California gets itslong-sought waiver to begin enforcing the tougher rules but that thefederal government itself will adopt and implement standards thatclosely mirror those of California's, officials said. The president'sannouncement brings to an end a six-year legal war between Californiaand regulators with Bush's Environmental Protection Agency whosteadfastly opposed the Golden State's efforts.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was pleased with the president's actions.
"California'srelentless push for greenhouse gas reductions from automobiles ispaying off not just for our state, but for all Americans, for ourenvironment, for automakers and our economy. This historic agreement toreduce greenhouse gases will mean cleaner air for our children andgrandchildren, greater economic security as we rely less on foreignoil, and a chance at renewal for our auto industry. Today, we're seeingwhat happens when California leads on energy and the environment anddoesn't waiver, doesn't get bogged down, doesn't let obstacles get inthe way," Schwarzenegger said in a statement released Monday evening.
U.S. Rep. LoisCapps, D-Santa Barbara, noted that the Obama Administration will alsoraise the fuel efficiency target to a 35.5 mile per gallon average:
"TheObama Administration's announcement that it's setting tough newstandards for tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide from new automobilesis great news," Capps said in a statement. "The historic agreementbetween the federal government, the state of California, and theautomakers confronts our nation's addiction to oil head on, marking thefirst time the U.S. will adopted a national standard for greenhouse gasemissions."
Oneof California's first collective efforts to combat global warming beganin July 2002 when then Gov. Gray Davis signed into law AssemblywomanFran Pavley's AB 1493, which was first-of-its-kind legislation requiring car makers to limit heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions in all new cars and trucks sold in the state.
Late comment on the announcement from U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein as of 7:27 a.m. Wednesday, May 19:
Calling it a "huge victory," Feinstein said:
Thefuel economy approach announced by the White House today fulfills themandate and the structure of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, which Ichampioned with Senator Snowe for many years. This proposed rule-makingwill achieve the 35 miles per gallon target in almost half the time -and it establishes a national standard to reduce greenhouse gasemissions from vehicles in line with California's Pavley emissionsstandard. This will align, for the first time ever, the emissions andfuel economy standards issued by the State of California, theEnvironmental Protection Agency, and the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration. And the deal provides the automakers thecertainty and the flexibility they need to comply with these rigorousnew fuel economy and emissions targets. I applaud the White House forbringing all parties to the table - California officials, theautomakers, the autoworkers, environmental leaders, EPA and NHTSA - andgetting everyone to sign on the dotted line for an ambitious standard.This is a milestone that was many years in the making.