Environment Rhode Island Media Statement on U.S. EPA Denial of Waiver for Clean Cars Standards
Providence, RI— “ By denying a California waiver appeal for the
Clean Cars Standards the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
has ignored the threat of global warming and its mandate under the
Clean Air Act,” said Environment Rhode Island Advocate Matt Auten.
“Environment Rhode Island has been fighting for the Clean Cars
Program in Rhode Island since 2002 because the Clean Cars Standards are
one of the most effective tools states like Rhode Island have to reduce
global warming pollution. In Rhode Island the transportation sector
emits more global warming pollution than any other sector,” Auten
continued.
“After five years of advocacy and litigation it’s a shame that
the auto industry and their friends in the Bush Administration have
decided to deliver the Clean Cars Program back to the courts rather
than delivering cleaner cars to showrooms in Rhode Island,” Auten
continued.
In May 2007 Environment Rhode Island staff joined Rhode Island
Attorney General Patrick Lynch in testifying before a U.S. EPA public
hearing in support of the Clean Cars Program. The Clean Cars Program
has also enjoyed support from Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation
who have worked to defend Rhode Island’s right to adopt the program.
Yesterday U.S Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse called the EPA decision “disgraceful.”
A report released by the Environment Rhode Island Research &
Policy Center in May (http://environmentrhodeisland.org/reports) found
that if EPA had approved the waiver request the results would have
been:
• A 30% reduction in global warming pollution from new cars and trucks sold in Rhode Island by 2016.
• Among all Clean Cars states a cumulative global warming
emission reduction of 392 million metric tons by 2020, the equivalent
to taking 74 million of today’s cars off the road for an entire year.
• Reduced gasoline consumption by as much as 8.3 billion
gallons per year in 2020—as much as is consumed by all the vehicles in
Florida in a year.
• Up to $25.8 billion in savings annually at the pump in 2020.
