Oregon Governor Kulongoski Applauds National Tailpipe Emissions Standard

Governor also calls for the Oregon Senate to Pass HB 2186, a low carbon fuel standard for Oregon.

May 19, 2009 -- (Salem) - Oregon Governor Kulongoski today applauded the announcement by the Obama Administration that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will adopt federal tailpipe standards based on those first adopted by California in 2004, and joined by Oregon and several other states in 2005.

“I fought to establish clean tailpipe standards for Oregon because it was one of the most significant actions the state could take to combat global warming and to reduce our reliance on foreign sources of oil,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “As I noted then, by states joining a uniform standard, the pressure for the automobile industry to transition to cleaner cars but nationally, would be inevitable. Today, that moment has arrived.”

Oregon established the clean tailpipe standards in 2005, and has joined sister states in defending the right to move forward with the standards in ongoing litigation with the automobile industry. As a compliment to the tailpipe standard, the administration also proposes to increase vehicle fuel mileage. Under the new federal standard, national fleet mileage for cars would be approximately 39 miles a gallon in 2016, up from 27 miles a gallon today.

“This is an historic step forward by the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming,” Governor Kulongoski said. “I am proud that Oregon helped lead the way for this result today.”

Governor Kulongoski also renewed his call for the Oregon Senate to enact one of his top climate change priorities this session, House Bill 2186. The legislation, which already passed out of the Oregon House, would require that the carbon content of Oregon’s transportation fuel be reduced by 10 percent over the next ten years.

“A low carbon fuel standard is the perfect complement to a federal clean tailpipe standard,” the Governor continued. “Not only will gas mileage improve, but every car will use cleaner burning fuel, emitting fewer greenhouse gas emissions on every road in the state.”

A low carbon fuel standard will reduce Oregon’s reliance on foreign sources of transportation fuel, save money for consumers at the pump over time, and create thousands of clean technology jobs in Oregon, particularly in rural parts of the state where the use of forest wood waste could become a major source of clean transportation fuel.

Source: Oregon Governor