Connecticut Governor Rell Offers Testimony Critical of EPA’s Refusal to Grant California Waiver on Emissions

Governor Rell, 13 Other Governors Also Write Letter of Complaint to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson

January 24, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to let California and other states – including Connecticut – enforce stronger auto emissions standards.

“I want the committee to know that we are deeply frustrated by the EPA’s decision to stand in the way of environmental progress and cleaner air,” Governor Rell said. “The Clean Air Act gives California the right to set tougher emissions standards than the federal government and allows other states to copy the California standards. The EPA has repeatedly allowed that process to take place – but now, for some reason, it has dug in its heels and refused to grant the necessary waiver.

“There is much more at stake here than bureaucratic turf battles,” the Governor said. “These emissions standards could have far-reaching implications for climate change. The standards alone are by no means a cure-all, but we are committed to doing everything reasonable to reduce emissions and help preserve the environment. My sincere hope is that Congress will restore the flexibility that states need to deal with these issues.”

Separately, Governor Rell and 13 other Governors wrote EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson a strongly worded letter about the agency’s refusal to grant the waiver, saying the decision “ignores federal law and the reality of climate change.”

The EPA ruled in December that California would not be allowed to enforce higher standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cars. Connecticut and 18 other states had planned to follow California’s lead, requiring vehicles sold in Connecticut beginning with the 2009 model year to reduce GHG emissions by up to 30 percent by 2016. The reductions would be accomplished by requiring the use of “off-the-shelf” technology such as more efficient turbocharged engines and air conditioners.

The California standards would have limited greenhouse gas emissions from cars, light trucks and sport-utility vehicles by 392 million metric tons by the year 2020, the equivalent to taking 74 million of today's cars off the road for an entire year. Governor Rell and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger argued in a May 2007 op-ed in The Washington Post that enacting these standards would be a huge step forward in our efforts to clean the environment and would show the rest of the world that our nation is serious about fighting global warming.

“EPA’s unprecedented decision not to grant California the waiver is blocking Connecticut from taking action we believe is necessary to protect the people of our state,” Governor Rell said in her testimony. “I must strongly and unequivocally convey my disappointment with that decision.”

The Governor noted in her testimony that the EPA’s rationale for denying the waiver was flimsy.

“In denying the waiver, EPA acknowledged that ‘greenhouse gas emissions harm the environment in California and elsewhere,’” Governor Rell said. “EPA then translated the California GHG standard to a fuel economy standard, using an unknown methodology.

“EPA also attempted to portray the new CAFE standards (as amended in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) as a GHG reduction strategy,” the Governor said. “While Connecticut applauds the new fuel efficiency standards, we find no evidence that Congress intended or believed the fuel economy standards would supplant efforts to regulate motor vehicle GHG emissions.

“Finally, the committee should not be misled by EPA’s press statement, which claimed that approving the California waiver would lead to a ‘confusing patchwork of state rules,’” she said. “There are only two possible standards: Federal or California. Historically, the automotive industry has successfully implemented both; states like Connecticut have done their best to ease transitions from Federal standards to California standards.”

In their letter, Governor Rell and the other Governors again denounced the EPA’s reasoning for refusing to grant the permit.

“The federal government, with this unprecedented action, is ignoring the rights of states as well as the will of more than 100 million people across the United States,” the Governors wrote. “We stand by our commitment to bring cleaner cars to our states.”

In addition to Governor Rell, the letter was signed by Governor Napolitano of Arizona; Governor Schwarzenegger of California; Governor Baldacci of Maine; Governor O’Malley of Maryland; Governor Patrick of Massachusetts; Governor Corzine of New Jersey; Governor Richardson of New Mexico; Governor Spitzer of New York; Governor Kulongoski of Oregon; Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Carcieri of Rhode Island; Governor Douglas of Vermont; and Governor Gregoire of Washington.

Source: Connecticut Governor

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •