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This has been a David and Goliath struggle worth watching and chronicling. It’s the story of state efforts to protect citizens’ health by promoting cleaner motor vehicles in the face of relentless pressure from the major automobile companies. The automobile industry has spent millions of dollars in an effort to kill these state standards.
Please check back frequently for the latest releases and news
stories from around the nation.
News
- December 17, 2009 – California and British Columbia sign an MOU to cooperate on implementing vehicle GHG standards.
- December 7, 2009 – After a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and careful consideration of public comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten the public health and welfare of the American people. EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.
“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Business leaders, security experts, government officials, concerned citizens and the United States Supreme Court have called for enduring, pragmatic solutions to reduce the greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate change. This continues our work towards clean energy reform that will cut GHGs and reduce the dependence on foreign oil that threatens our national security and our economy.”
More on EPA Action
- September 15, 2009 – U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed an historic national program to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy in passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, in model years 2012 through 2016. The standards will be equivalent to California's Clean Cars Law once fully implemented in 2016. They require these vehicles to meet an estimated combined average emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (MPG) if the automobile industry were to meet this carbon dioxide level solely through fuel economy improvements. They are the outcome of an agreement announced in May by President Obama ending years of battle between the automakers, California, and 13 states that had adopted California's vehicle tailpipe standards. The announcement opens a 60-day comment period, with the regulation expected to be final in March 2010.
More on EPA Action
EPA news release
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger statement
NRDC release
Sierra Club release
Union of Concerned Scientists release
Safe Climate Campaign statement
- September 10, 2009 – Another lawsuit: old foes, the National Auto Dealers Association and new foes, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, file suit attempting to overturn the Clean Cars waiver.
- June 30, 2009 – Three years, six months, and nine days after California first requested a waiver of the Clean Air Act to implement its Clean Cars Law, the U.S. EPA has finally obliged.
"This decision puts the law and science first. After review of the scientific findings, and another comprehensive round of public engagement, I have decided this is the appropriate course under the law," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a news release. "This waiver is consistent with the Clean Air Act as it's been used for the last 40 years and supports the prerogatives of the 13 states and the District of Columbia who have opted to follow California's lead. More importantly, this decision reinforces the historic agreement on nationwide emissions standards developed by a broad coalition of industry, government and environmental stakeholders earlier this year."
California may now implement its world-leading program requiring automakers to reduce global warming pollution from vehicles beginning with the current model year. Under the law, by 2016, vehicle GHG emissions will be cut by 30 percent.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commended the decision:
"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."
- May 19, 2009 – President Barack Obama today announced tough new nationwide greenhouse gas and mileage standards for new vehicles, an historic end to the battle between automakers and California, 13 other states, and the District of Columbia.
Under the plan, the automakers will drop their lawsuits against the states, the federal EPA will grant California its waiver to implement the Clean Cars Law beginning in 2010, and the U.S. EPA and DOT will enter into a joint rulemaking on greenhouse gas emissions and mileage standards to begin in 2012. By 2016, the federal standards are expected to be equivalent to California's standards, resulting in a nationwide car and light truck fleet that is almost 40 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient. The average mileage standard will be 35.5 mpg.
- April 22, 2009 – Testimony of Kevin Knobloch, UCS President, on Climate 2030 Blueprint, before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- April 20, 2009 – EPA Preliminary Analysis of the Waxman-Markey Discussion Draft
- April 17, 2009 – U.S. EPA determines that global warming pollution "endangers" the nation’s human health and well-being.
- April 6, 2009 – Luke Tonachel, NRDC, Blog on Transportation Components of Waxman-Markey
- March 31, 2009 – Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) release a “discussion draft” for climate and energy legislation and pledge to move the American Clean Energy and Security Act out of committee by Memorial Day. Environmental advocates are closely tracking it to ensure that it protects important rights, such as states’ rights to adopt California vehicle emissions controls as provided under the Clean Air Act.
- March 5, 2009 – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issues statement at EPA hearing on California's Clean Cars waiver request.
- March 5, 2009 – Testimony of California State Senator Fran Pavley, author of the Clean Cars Law.
- March 5, 2009 – NRDC Testimony and Blogs
- March 5, 2009 –.Testimony and new release from Environmental Defense Fund.
- March 5, 2009 – Sierra Club Unveils Photo Petition, Virtual Clean Cars Show In Conjunction with EPA Hearing. People from Across the Country Agree: EPA Holds the Key to Clean Cars
- March 4, 2009 – On the eve of U.S. EPA's hearing to reconsider California's Clean Cars Waiver request, consumer and environmental advocates answered reporters' questions in a teleconference call. Materials distributed include:
- Union of Concerned Scientists updated "Vanguard" report highlighting existing technologies automakers can use to meet the Clean Cars standard
– fact sheet
– more information from UCS
- Slide discussed by Adam Lee, president, Lee Auto Malls (third generation auto dealer and manager of twelve locations across Maine, selling both domestic and foreign nameplates) demonstrating drop in 2008 net revenue by vehicle market segment
- January 26, 2009 – President Obama instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Bush administration's denial of a request by California and 13 other states to implement global warming pollution standards for cars and trucks.
Read more.
- January 21, 2009 – One day after President Barack Obama's historic inauguration, California again asks for a waiver to implement the Clean Cars Law.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's letter to President Barack Obama
California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols' letter to EPA Administrator-designate Lisa Jackson seeking reconsideration of the previous waiver denial
- December 11, 2008 – Detroit Bailout news and editorial coverage:
Seeking bailout while battling emissions curbs – Boston Globe
Now They Say They Can Do It – New York Times
- December 9, 2008 – Detroit Bailout:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce fights provision to block automaker lawsuits against Clean Car standards
- December 8, 2008 – Detroit Bailout:
An NRDC analysis of GM's and Ford's investment plans submitted to Congress shows the U.S. automakers can comply with California's Clean Cars standard nationwide.
Read the analysis
News release
- December 5, 2008 – Detroit Bailout:
Statement from Union of Concerned Scientists' David Friedman before House Committee on Financial Services
- December 2, 2008 – On a vote of 6-to-1, Florida's Environmental Regulation Commission adopted the Clean Cars Law, and sent the rule to the state legislature for final ratification.
Florida Audubon news release
- September 23, 2008 – In response to the EPA's issuance of an "Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" last July, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works holds a hearing on regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's opening statement
Testimony of California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols
Testimony of Sierra Club's David Bookbinder
- July 31, 2008 – The 2008 Public Policy Institute of California poll on the environment finds global warming front and center among Californians' environmental concerns. Two in three residents and likely voters, and majorities of voters across parties favor the state making its own policies. Eight in 10 residents (81%) and likely voters (79%) say they favor the 2002 state law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new cars beginning in 2009.
Read the PPIC Press release
Download the full report
- July 22, 2008 – U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing: an update on the science of global warming and its implications.
- July 11, 2008 – U.S. EPA issues an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will involve seeking months more comment on whether GHG is a pollutant that affects public health. It is essentially delaying action until the next president takes office. Read more.
- May 30, 2008 – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sends a letter to U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer, Joseph Lieberman and John Warner establishing California's key principles for any federal climate legislation. Read the press release.
- May 29, 2008 – California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols responds to a letter sent by Congressional Republicans to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting a national vehicle standard.
Read Chairman Nichols's response
Read the list of recipients to Chairman Nichols's letter
Read the Republican Congressional delegation's letter
- May 19, 2008 – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee investigation concludes that the White House tampered with the U.S. EPA’s decision, leading EPA to reject California’s request for a waiver to implement its clean cars law.
- May 8, 2008 – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s statement after meeting with automakers.
- May 6, 2008 – Arizona adopts Clean Cars regulation.
- April 22-23, 2008 – On Earth Day, NHTSA releases proposed new fuel economy rules. But buried in the small print is language that would pre-empt Calif. and other states from implementing stricter tailpipe regulations to reduce global warming pollution.
Read about the latest attack on states’ rights
- April 2, 2008 – One year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that EPA has authority to regulate GHG from vehicles, 18 states, three cities and 11 environmental groups returned to federal court to press the U.S. EPA to act on the court-mandated “endangerment finding,” a determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health or welfare. This action follows a month of continued foot-dragging by EPA and badgering by Congress.
Read more about endangerment finding
- February 29, 2008 – U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson issues his justification for denying California's waiver request for its Clean Cars law.
Read the decision
Read the EPA fact sheet
- January 24, 2008 – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joins 13 other governors in sending a letter to U.S. EPA regarding the U.S. EPA waiver denial.
Learn more
- January 24, 2008 – Calif. Air Resources Board releases addendum to previous analysis of California Clean Cars regulation vs. CAFE standards adopted by Congress in December.
Learn more
- January 10, 2008 – U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, holds a field hearing in Los Angeles on the EPA’s recent waiver denial. Learn more
- January 10, 2008 – An assessment of major studies that have examined the implications of global warming for urban smog concludes that the EPA’s refusal to allow California to regulate greenhouse gases from motor vehicles has adverse consequences for the health of California’s urban residents, especially children and seniors.
Environmental Defense news release
Environmental Defense report
- January 2, 2008 – In separate petitions, California and 15 states, plus five environmental organizations ask a federal court to reverse the December 19, 2007 U.S. EPA decision denying California a waiver to implement its Clean Cars law. The petitions were filed in the 9th Circuit of Appeals.
Learn more
- December 20, 2007 – Gov. Schwarzenegger announces intent to appeal EPA waiver denial.
- December 20, 2007 – House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman initiates investigation into U.S. EPA its decision to deny California’s clean cars waiver.
Read the request
- December 19, 2007 – Bush administration denies California clean cars waiver request.
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson’s letter to Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
EPA news release: EPA denies California clean cars waiver
Read Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s response
Read Calif. Attorney General Jerry Brown’s response
Read U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s response
Read National Association of Clean Air Agencies response
Read NRDC response
Read Union of Concerned Scientists response
Read the Environment America response
Read the NESCAUM response
Read Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell response
Read New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s response
Read Maine Gov. John Baldacci’s response
Read Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s response
Read New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s response
- December 11, 2007 – California wins in U.S. District Court. Judge Anthony Ishii dismisses automaker lawsuit in U.S. District Court, opens door for California Clean Cars Law in global warming fight. State awaits waiver from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before it can implement law.
Read the American Lung Association of California news release
Read the NRDC news release
Read the UCS news release
Read the Sierra Club news release
- November 28, 2007 – New Mexico becomes the 13th state to adopt the Clean Cars Law.
- November 8, 2007 – In a precedent setting lawsuit, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. sued the U.S. EPA, to force action on the state’s waiver request. The lawsuit, filed today in Washington D.C. , charges the EPA with an unreasonable delay in reaching a decision on California’s request for a waiver to implement its clean cars law.
Fourteen other states – Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington – joined California’s lawsuit.
Read the Governor’s Press release and view video
Read the Attorney General’s Press release
Read the Complaint
Read the Statement from Former US EPA Administrator William K. Reilly
Read the statement from NRDC’s David Doniger
Read the Environment California release
Read the National Environmental Trust statement
Read the Union of Concerned Scientists release
- September 12, 2007 – A federal district court judge in Vermont today ruled against the automakers and for the states of Vermont and New York and environmental groups in support of the Clean Cars Law. The decision opens the way toward implementation of California’s vehicle global warming pollution standards in Vermont.
Read the judge's opinion.
Read statements on the ruling by Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, and Union of Concerned Scientists
Read the statement by Environmental Defense
- September 12, 2007 – Thirteen Governors sign a letter to automakers asking them to drop their lawsuits against state clean cars laws and work together to address global warming.
- June 6, 2007 – Members of Congress, governors, state attorneys general, state environmental leaders, and environmental, public interest and consumer groups join to oppose provisions in draft energy legislation that would cripple states’ rights. Read more.
- May 21, 2007 – Washington, DC—Tailpipe standards already in place in 12 states would reduce global warming emissions by nearly 400 million metric tons by 2020 – a reduction equivalent to taking 74 million of today’s cars off the road for an entire year, according to a new U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) report. The report comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares to hold public hearings May 22 in Arlington, Virginia and May 30 in Sacramento, Calif. on whether to give states the green light to reduce global warming pollution from cars and SUVs.
- May 10, 2007 – U.S. EPA announces a second public hearing on California waiver request to implement the Clean Cars Law, this one in Sacramento May 30.
Second waiver notice
- April 25, 2007 – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warns U.S. EPA that the state will sue if the federal agency fails to act within 6 months on California’s long-delayed request for a waiver to implement its clean cars law.
Governor’s news release and letter to EPA
- April 24, 2007 – U.S. EPA opens comment period on California waiver request to implement Clean Cars Law
Read details
- April 02, 2007 – U.S. Supreme Court gives green light to global warming motor vehicle standards. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in a strongly-worded opinion that CO2 is a pollutant and that states can regulate its emissions, bolstering California’s Clean Cars Law.
Read the opinion
Read the Union of Concerned Scientists press release
Read the Natural Resources Defense Council press release
Read the Sierra Club press release
Read the PIRG press release
- March 19, 2007 – The automakers’ trial against the Clean Cars Law is going forward in Vermont. In a Burlington, Vt. courtroom, attorneys for the Burlington Free Press argue their motion to keep the trial open to the public, opposing an automaker motion to close certain testimony due to claims of trade secrets.
Read more
- January 16, 2007 – A federal judge in Fresno, Calif. today postponed trial of the auto industry’s lawsuit against California’s landmark clean cars global warming standards until the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision in a closely related case later this spring.
Read the NRDC news release
Read the judge's order
- November 20, 2006 – Next week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a landmark global warming case, Massachusetts v. EPA. This case will decide whether the Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the pollution that causes global warming. It will also have a direct bearing on the eleven states across the country that have adopted global warming tailpipe emissions standards for cars and trucks.
Read the Media Advisory
Read the Mass. v. EPA Primer
- September 26, 2006 – Environment, science, conservation, health, and consumer leaders join key members of Congress in calling on the Bush administration to allow California to implement its new clean-car standards to limit global warming emissions.
Read the news release.
Read the letter from 100 Congressional Representatives.
- September 20, 2006 – California sues six major automakers for global warming damages.
- September 15, 2006 – Attorneys for the California Attorney General and the environmental intervenors argue in U.S. District Court in Fresno, Calif. that the federal Clean Air Act authorizes, and no other law preempts, California’s regulations to reduce global warming pollution from vehicles.
- August 31, 2006 – Powerful Coalition Petitions Supreme Court to Order EPA to Obey the Law
- March 16, 2006 – New NRC Report Affirms the Role of the States in Setting Clean Air Standards
Resources
- May 29, 2008 – More than 1,700 of the
nation's most prominent scientists and economists release a joint
statement calling on policymakers to require immediate,
deep reductions in global warming emissions – just days
before the Senate begins debate on the Lieberman-Warner climate
bill.
- May, 2008 – A discussion paper by
Walter McManus, University of Michigan Transportation Research
Institute, of numerous studies examining the impact of the
Clean Cars program as well as increasing fuel economy
regulations on auto industry profits and jobs.
- May 8, 2007 – California released an
updated comparison of
the Clean Cars law vs. federal CAFÉ standards, using the
standards announced by NHTSA in April 2008. It found
California’s rule achieves 41 percent greater total
reductions of greenhouse gases nationwide compared to the
recently proposed federal fuel economy standards by 2020
- October 2007 – King review of low-carbon
cars
- April 22, 2008 – UCS Report: Setting the
Standard: How Cost-Effective Technology Can Increase Vehicle
Fuel Economy
- April 22, 2008 – U.S. Reps. Waxman, Markey,
Inslee call on Congressional colleagues to support a set of
“strong, fair, and science-based” principles to guide
Congress as it produces a comprehensive global warming bill.
- February 25, 2008 – CARB issues the final
report comparing emissions reduction benefits of Clean Cars
law with CAFE
- January 24, 2008 – Calif.
Air Resources Board addendum to earlier study of California
Clean Cars program (Pavley) to CAFE
- January 8, 2008 – Facts
Are Stupid Things – NRDC Climate Center Director David
Doniger’s blog
- Where do the 2008 presidential candidates stand?
- January 2, 2008 – California Air Resources
Board compares California Clean Cars program (Pavley) to
federal CAFÉ standards
- December 27, 2007 – Congressional Research
Service Report to Congress: California’s Waiver Request to
Control Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act
- December 2007 – Arriving at the Tipping Point
– Sierra Club
- January 2007 – Vanguard: We can have it
all with lower emissions today – Union of Concerned
Scientists
- November 2007 – Biofuels: An Important Part
of a Low-Carbon Diet – Union of Concerned Scientists
- August 2007 – Automakers
Corporate Carbon Burdens report – Environmental
Defense
- Video with NRDC’s Roland Hwang: Clean Cars – A
Global Warming Solution
Recent Clippings
- January 21, 2009 – Pew Environment Group ad
in USA Today urges President Obama to take action on global
warming.
- December 12, 2008 – Editorial:
Appeal of air rules is Motor City madness – Providence
Business News
- April 12, 2008 – “Vanishing
Act” U.S. EPA fails to live up to its name – National
Journal cover story
- January 9, 2008 – The
EPA’s faulty climate math - Reporter Andrew Revkin’s
blog – New York Times
December 21, 2007 – A selection of national news
clippings of the waiver denial.
TIME, CBS News, Detroit News, Reuters, Seattle Times, Hartford
Courant, Detroit Free Press, The New York Times, USA Today
- December 21, 2007 – Editorials on U.S. EPA
denial of California waiver request. – New York Times,
Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Mercury News
- December 21, 2007 – News coverage on
political and legal fallout of U.S. EPA denial of California
waiver request. – Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle,
Mercury News, Sacramento Bee
- December 12, 2007 – Sacramento Bee story
summarizes impact of U.S. District Court decision against
automakers in California Clean Cars Law case.
- September 12, 2007 – States seeking to
regulate vehicle GHG emissions win big in court. News coverage of
Vermont decision from: Detroit News, Los Angeles Times, San
Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Washington Post
- September 1, 2007 – A Congressional
Research Service report updated
in August and leaked to
the San Jose Mercury News indicates California has a good
case for its waiver request to EPA – San Jose Mercury News
- July 3, 2007 – California officials are
furious at evidence
that DOT lobbied on behalf of auto industry against
California’s waiver request – Los Angeles Daily News
- June 18, 2007 –
U.S. Reps. John Dingell and Rick Boucher withdraw
language from energy legislation that would have overturned
California’s authority to implement its Clean Cars Law –
San Francisco Chronicle and The Sacramento Bee
- June 8, 2007 – Editorials oppose
legislative effort in Congress to overturn California’s
and other states’ right to set stricter greenhouse gas
emissions standards – Washington Post and The Sacramento
Bee
- May 21, 2007 – California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell co-sign a strongly worded
op-ed pushing the Bush Administration to act on
California’s waiver request – Washington Post
- May 21, 2007 – Calif. Attorney General
and former Gov. Jerry Brown crusades for
California’s EPA waiver – Newsweek Online
- May 13, 2007 – Burlington Free Press wraps up coverage of
Vermont Clean Cars trial
- April 11 – May 9, 2007 – Selected
articles from Burlington Free Press
coverage of Vermont trial
- April 25, 2007 – Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger threatens to sue U.S. EPA –
Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee,
San Diego Union-Tribune
- April 24, 2007 – U.S.
EPA Opens Comment Period on California waiver request to
implement Clean Cars law - Greenwire
- April 24, 2007 - Maryland
Clean Cars bill signed into law – Baltimore Sun
- April 12, 13, 14, 2007 – Vermont Trial
Coverage – Burlington Free Press
- April 11, 2007 – Trial of the tailpipe
opens – Burlington Free Press
- April 11, 2007 –- Editorial: Open court
serves public in hearings – Burlington Free Press
- April 5, 2007 – Judge Denies Automakers’
Motion to Close Courtroom – Burlington Free Press
- March 24, 2007 – Judge in emissions suit
rejects companies' push for secrecy – Associated Press
- March 16 and 10, 2007 –
Coverage of pre-trial
activity in Vermont. Burlington Free Press files motion to
intervene opposing automakers’ motion to seal testimony in
Vermont Clean Cars lawsuit – Burlington Free Press and
Associated Press
- October 25, 2006 – The Bush administration and
business interests urge the Supreme Court to reject upcoming
hearing on Mass. v. EPA CO2 case – Greenwire
- September 9, 2006 – Arizona adopts plan to
reduce global warming; plan includes Clean Cars Law
component – Arizona Republic
- August 11, 2006 – Cities,
States Aren't Waiting For U.S. Action on Climate –
Washington Post
- July 3, 2006 – Path now clear for cleaner
mowers. Bond has backed off his opposition, so the EPA eyes new
emission rules – Kansas City Star
- June 30, 2006 – Approval near for control of
small engines’ emissions. EPA ready to OK California’s
limits, even to point of making rules national standard –
San Francisco Chronicle
- June 29, 2006 – California Smog Rules
May be Used Nationwide – AP
- June 29, 2006 – Supreme
Court Agrees to Hear Global Warming Case – AP
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