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Links And Additional Information On These Issues
In recent weeks, the Clean Car Campaign issued a national alert focused on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) misleading Green Vehicle Guide, and an alert in California targeted the State's consideration of a landmark bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.
Thank you for joining over 7,200 other Clean Car Campaign email activists who wrote to the EPA about their Green Vehicle Guide website and labeling plans. You demonstrated that there is substantial public concern about the EPA providing misleading information to consumers. Your letters clearly got the EPA's attention, and we hope that will lead the Agency to employ a fair and open process and to produce a more accurate and complete Guide. We will keep you informed of any developments in addressing this important issue.
A special thanks to those of you who responded again when EPA wrote back to you. Unfortunately, EPA's replies failed to tell the whole story. For example, EPA said emissions scores are based on standards that incorporate all regulated pollutants, but failed to mention that their method does not properly reflect health impacts, especially for pollutants of great concern for respiratory health, such as fine particulates. From our perspective, EPA's rating system makes cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, look worse than they really are, and fuels that pose serious health concerns, such as diesel, look better than they really are. Likewise, EPA's response did not disclose fundamental problems with the vehicle classification system that provides the basis for EPA's ratings.
You can see the EPA's Green Vehicle Guide here:
http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions
On July 1st the California legislature passed a bill to address greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks, leading the California Air Resources Board to examine the best method to achieve maximum feasible reductions in these pollutants. This is the first time that a state has moved to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. California has unique authority under the Clean Air Act to establish stricter pollution rules for vehicles than the federal government, and other states may follow.
Thanks to Clean Car Campaign activists in California who delivered critical last minute calls and letters to their state representatives to help achieve this important victory (see California AB 1058 Alert). The bill now awaits Governor Gray Davis' signature. Thanks in part to those of you who acted on our updated alert to California activists urging the Governor to sign the bill, Governor Davis has indicated that he will sign the bill next week. After the Governor signs, the auto industry may challenge the law in the courts and/or through a ballot initiative. We will alert you if we need your help again in this state work of critical national importance.
For more information, visit http://www.cleancarcampaign.org.
Information past updates on this issue:
Make California a leader in the national effort to stop global warming
Help California lead efforts against global warming: Remind the state Assembly to support AB 1058
Help California lead efforts against global warming: Remind your state Senator to support AB 1058
The California Bill - AB 1493:
News Coverage:
Tailpipe bill next step to clean air?
If Davis signs proposed legislation, it would shake up auto industry
By Douglas Fischer
July 11, 2002
Politics of fuel economy play out from California to Detroit
Automakers gird to bear burden of Clean Car Bill
By Jeff Plungis / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press
July 9, 2002
Greenhouse gas fight may carry on
Lawsuits or an initiative may follow if Gov. Davis signs the bill
By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau
July 7, 2002
California Leads on Warming
New York Times Op-Ed
July 7, 2002
NEWS ANALYSIS: At the Front on Pollution
New York Times
By Danny Hakim
July 3, 2002
email: info@cleancarcampaign.org