Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell Praises President Obama’s Decision Directing EPA to Reconsider California Waiver

Jan. 26, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell hailed President Barack Obama’s move today directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California’s waiver request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles.

The decision, said the Governor, is expected to allow Pennsylvania and other states to take more aggressive action in addressing pressing economic, environmental and national security concerns.

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“After years of delay, this move is good news for those of us who are working to address climate change and declare our independence from foreign oil,” Governor Rendell said. “It demonstrates that this administration understands the magnitude of the challenges we face and shares our commitment to cleaner air and water.

“I applaud President Obama for his leadership and vision. Ensuring California, Pennsylvania and at least 12 other states can put cleaner, more fuel efficient cars on the road means good things for our people, our national security, and our environment; it means fewer trips to the gas pump, fewer dollars being shipped overseas to oil-rich nations; and fewer pollutants in our air.”

Pennsylvania adopted California’s stricter vehicle emission rules, but has not realized greenhouse gas reductions from the rules because California has not been permitted to enforce that portion of its clean vehicle program.

Governor Rendell repeatedly challenged the Bush administration’s efforts to restrict or delay efforts by Pennsylvania and other states to improve air quality by limiting greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

Last January, Pennsylvania joined a multi-state lawsuit against the EPA challenging the federal agency’s refusal to grant California a waiver to enforce its stronger greenhouse emission standards. In testimony before the U.S. Senate, Governor Rendell said the EPA ‘wrongfully and illegally’ blocked state efforts to ensure cleaner air and water to protect public health and safety.

A comparison by California found that if Pennsylvania could cut greenhouse gases from automobiles using the California regulation rather than the federal standard, it would prevent an additional 2.2 million metric tons per year of climate changing gases from reaching the atmosphere by 2016, and 6.6 million metric tons per year by 2020.

Nearly two years ago, in the Massachusetts v. EPA case, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the EPA has the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide as air pollutants. This decision paved the way for states to adopt regulations controlling greenhouse gas pollutants from automobiles sold within its borders.

Source: Pennsylvania Governor