California Gov. Statement on Court Decision in Favor of CA to Regulate Auto Tailpipe Emissions that Cause Global Warming

12/12/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today applauded the court decision in Fresno re-confirming states' ability to set motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards, modeled after California's strict regulations. Today's decision is similar to one made by a federal court in Vermont earlier this year.

"Once again, the courts have determined that states, and the federal EPA, can and should regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks and buses. Today's decision marks another important victory in the fight against global warming. California and other states will prevail in our goal to take aggressive action on climate change," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "With motor vehicles contributing to roughly 28 percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that we be granted the fuel waiver from the federal government."

The legal decision in Fresno comes on the heels of a Vermont court decision and another by the United States Supreme Court confirming that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has the authority, under the Clean Air Act, to limit greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

On December 21, 2005, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) requested a waiver of federal preemption of California's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards. The waiver was requested after the ARB developed regulations based on a 2002 California law.

This year, Governor Schwarzenegger launched the effort that led to California filing a lawsuit against the USEPA for failing to act on California’s tailpipe emissions waiver request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light trucks sold in the state. The Governor lobbied both President Bush and USEPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to approve the request so that California can implement the nation’s cleanest standards for vehicle emissions.

Last year, the Governor signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, California’s landmark bill that established a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases. The law calls for the reduction of carbon emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

Source: California Governor

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