Obama Administration Likely to Grant California Emissions Waiver for Cars
Articles — By forcechange on January 19, 2009 10:09 am
One of the most immediate environmental impacts the incoming Obama administration is expected to make is to grant California a waiver to impose their own greenhouse gas emission standards on vehicles.
The EPA under Bush has refused to grant this waiver, which has sparked a round of litigation between the state and federal government. Without the waiver, carmakers have only been required to meet the relatively lax federal CAFE standards. However, once the waiver is granted and California, along with more than a dozen other states expected to adopt the California standards, carmakers will be held to materially higher efficiency requirements. This could result in an average of 3 miles more per gallon by 2015, and 7 more by 2020.
The LA Times notes that Lisa Jackson, Obama’s nominee to head the EPA has stated, “If I am confirmed, I will immediately revisit the waiver.”
And GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who is stuck between the need to keep ornery politicians happy and getting the most federal money possible, noted, “we can meet the law, but it’s going to take a lot of money.”
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