06/30/2009 GAAS:345:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds EPA Decision Granting California Authority to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
today issued the following statement after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) granted California a waiver to implement its greenhouse gas emissions
standards for cars after a three and a half year wait:
"After being asleep at the wheel
for over two decades, the federal government has finally stepped up and granted
California its nation-leading tailpipe emissions waiver. This decision is a
huge step for our emerging green economy that will create thousands of new jobs
and bring Californians the cars they want while reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. Thanks to the environmental commitment of President Obama and the
continued leadership of state Senator Fran Pavley, California's long battle to
reduce pollution from passenger vehicles is over, and a greener, cleaner future
has finally arrived."
The Schwarzenegger Administration
first requested a waiver of preemption from the EPA on Dec. 21, 2005.
California is the only state under the Federal Clean Air Act, with the unique
ability to set stricter-than-federal standards for vehicles, as long as it gets
a waiver from the federal government. Once California receives a waiver from
the federal government, then other states can choose to adopt California's
cleaner standards.
Thirteen other states and the
District of Columbia have adopted California's clean car standards. State
officials have made the following statements on the EPA waiver decision:
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
said: "Today's action is yet another great example of President Obama's
Environmental Protection Agency's common-sense approach to protecting the
environment and investing in our clean energy economy. Thanks to California's
clean cars waiver, which sets the stage for 13 other states, including
Maryland, half of America's new vehicle fleet will use proven technology to
reduce carbon emissions and to become more fuel efficient."
New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson said: "This decision gives us the best of both worlds - it validates
the leadership of states like New Mexico that have adopted clean vehicle
emission standards while demonstrating strong federal leadership to address
transportation-related climate pollution in the future."
New York Governor David A.
Paterson said: "I applaud the decision by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency to approve the State of California's clean vehicle program.
The decision is living proof that there is new leadership in Washington.
Leadership that recognizes the key role that states can play when it comes to
developing environmental policy and leadership that understands the partnership
needed to successfully tackle the climate change crisis."
Massachusetts Governor Deval
Patrick said: "From the start, Massachusetts has supported California's effort
to enable itself and other states to regulate tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions
under the Clean Air Act. I am delighted that the Obama Administration is
allowing states to address these emissions which, for Massachusetts and other
Northeast states, comprise a significant portion of our greenhouse gas
emissions. Coming quickly on the heels of the historic vote on energy and
climate legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, this news accelerates
our progress toward a clean energy future."
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas said:
"The Obama Administration's decision to grant California a waiver for its
standards restricting greenhouse gas emission from motor vehicles is a
significant step in the right direction for Vermont and other states that adopted
these standards. My commitment to reducing carbon emissions in Vermont is
longstanding as Vermont has been fighting to join California in adopting these
standards for some time now.
"As the first state to adopt
California's motor vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards and to
successfully defend these standards against legal challenges by the automobile
industry in federal court, Vermont is a leader among the more than a dozen
states that have adopted these tougher standards.
"Auto emissions are one of the
main contributors to greenhouse gas concentrations. This is particularly true
in Vermont where the transportation sector accounts for approximately 45
percent of our carbon footprint. That is why reducing an emission from
automobiles is so important here in Vermont.
"The Clean Air Act clearly
provides states with the right to adopt these emission standards. EPA's
decision to grant a waiver now allows states to enforce these standards.
This decision by Administrator Jackson embraces states' rights and I applaud
the EPA action."
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire
said, "I applaud President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for taking
this much-needed action. We've known for years that new standards were
needed - that's why I championed adoption of ‘clean car' standards for our
state's residents in 2005. Now, thanks to new leadership in Washington, D.C.,
we finally have it. With these new rules in effect, by 2020 we'll eliminate
pollution in an amount equivalent to removing 1 million cars off our roads and
highways in Washington state alone."
British Columbia Premier Gordon
Campbell said: "We welcome this decision by President Obama. It represents a
victory for California and like-minded jurisdictions such as British Columbia
that have taken legislative actions to support cleaner vehicle emissions
standards to combat climate change. I would especially like to congratulate
Governor Schwarzenegger for his ongoing leadership on this issue and other
measures to fight global warming."
District of Columbia Mayor Adrian
M. Fenty said: "In the District of Columbia, this is a climate and air quality
issue. We have no major industry in the nation's capital, so mobile sources of
air pollution take on even more importance. Today's EPA decision will mean
cleaner air, and a healthier place to live, work and visit."
