State should tighten vehicle emissions regulations
Washington State lawmakers are currently debating whether or not the state should follow California's lead in adopting tough new regulations to curb vehicle emissions.
The legislation would impose quotas for selling clean hybrids and other low polluting cars. California has already adopted such legislation, and Washington State would do well to join the Golden State.
The federal government, under Republican control, has provided absolutely no leadership on this issue. It's up to the states to get automakers to start making cars that are more environmentally friendly.
Here's some talking points on the issue from Clean Cars for Washington:
Reduce Dangerous Auto Emissions
Adopting clean car auto emission standards will reduce dangerous auto emissions that cause cancer and aggravate our children's already high rates of asthma. In other states, clean car standards have reduced cancer-causing automobile emissions by 25%.
Save Car Owners Money
Clean cars put money back in consumers’ pockets by saving money on fuel costs. If we adopt the standards in 2005, Washington state consumers will save more than $2 billion in total costs by 2020, after paying for the small increase in vehicle price.
Reduce Global Warming Pollution
Clean car auto emission standards will reduce global warming pollution from new cars by roughly 30% by 2016, and start reducing our dependance on foreign oil. Washington and Oregon’s cascade snowpack – which drives our power, water, agriculture, and habitat systems – is projected to decline by 59% by the 2050s without swift action.
Increase Consumer Choice
The eight other states that have clean car standards have the same SUVs, light trucks and passenger cars that we do, only better. From Buicks to BMWs, Hummers to Hondas, clean cars are ordinary cars that have better pollution control technology. But only states with clean car standards get all these choices.
The legislation would impose quotas for selling clean hybrids and other low polluting cars. California has already adopted such legislation, and Washington State would do well to join the Golden State.
The federal government, under Republican control, has provided absolutely no leadership on this issue. It's up to the states to get automakers to start making cars that are more environmentally friendly.
Here's some talking points on the issue from Clean Cars for Washington:
Reduce Dangerous Auto Emissions
Adopting clean car auto emission standards will reduce dangerous auto emissions that cause cancer and aggravate our children's already high rates of asthma. In other states, clean car standards have reduced cancer-causing automobile emissions by 25%.
Save Car Owners Money
Clean cars put money back in consumers’ pockets by saving money on fuel costs. If we adopt the standards in 2005, Washington state consumers will save more than $2 billion in total costs by 2020, after paying for the small increase in vehicle price.
Reduce Global Warming Pollution
Clean car auto emission standards will reduce global warming pollution from new cars by roughly 30% by 2016, and start reducing our dependance on foreign oil. Washington and Oregon’s cascade snowpack – which drives our power, water, agriculture, and habitat systems – is projected to decline by 59% by the 2050s without swift action.
Increase Consumer Choice
The eight other states that have clean car standards have the same SUVs, light trucks and passenger cars that we do, only better. From Buicks to BMWs, Hummers to Hondas, clean cars are ordinary cars that have better pollution control technology. But only states with clean car standards get all these choices.
