As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.
PROVIDENCE—The
Governor announced May 5, 2004 that he will bring cleaner cars to Rhode Island. "The
Governor's pledge to adopt the complete clean cars standard represents a grand
slam for everyone who breathes the air in this state," said Matthew Auten,
Clean Air Associate for the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG).
The bill would
reduce air toxics and smog precursors by an additional 25 percent more than
the federal emission standards and nitrogen oxide emissions by an additional
eight percent by 2020 through stricter car emissions standards and the promotion
of cleaner, advanced technology vehicles. Neighboring states including New York
and Massachusetts have already adopted the stricter emissions control program
designed by California, known as the Low Emission Vehicle program, Phase II
(LEV II). The Connecticut Legislature just recently passed the Clean Cars Bill
and the bill is currently awaiting Governor Rowland's signature.
"Here
in Rhode Island, everyone breathes air that exceeds U.S. EPA standards. We don't
have to look any further than the heavy traffic in our own communities and on
Route 95 and 195 to understand how profoundly automobile emissions contribute
to our state's pollution problem. The clean cars standard will start to clear
the air in Rhode Island by encouraging carmakers to produce the cleanest cars
possible for Rhode Island as early as this year and in increasing numbers over
time," said Auten.
Governor Carcieri's
support for this standard comes about 10 days after the EPA announced that the
entire state of Rhode Island fails to meet health based standards for ozone
levels. In addition, last week the American Lung Association of Rhode Island,
for the second year in a row, gave Kent, Washington and Providence Counties
F's for ozone levels (there are no monitoring stations in either Bristol or
Newport Counties). Since 2000, Rhode Island has had 50 days when the air was
deemed unhealthy to breathe. On these unhealthy air days, children, the elderly,
and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to stay indoors.
"Asthma
costs Rhode Island more than $40 million a year and that number continues to
rise," stated Margaret Kane, Executive Director of the American Lung Association
of Rhode Island. "Cleaning up cars is a great step towards less ozone alert
days and more 'go out and play' days for kids."
"By supporting
cleaner cars we can reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases
and stroke throughout the Ocean State," stated Nicholas Oliver, Director
of Advocacy for Rhode Island for the American Heart Association.
The standard
will require automakers to sell approximately 14,400 hybrid electric vehicles
and over 78,000 clean conventional vehicles in Rhode Island between 2007-2011,
with that number continuing to increase over time. Consumer will be more likely
to be able to find hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, on the lots at Rhode
Island dealerships once this standard is implemented. Currently, the waiting
list for a Toyota Prius, Motor Trends Magazine Car of the Year, is about 6 months.
J.D. Power and Associates, an industry expert, estimated carmakers will have
at least 28 models of hybrids automobiles by 2008, including 18 trucks and SUVs
and 10 cars.
"We applaud
Governor Carcieri for his support of cleaner cars," stated Auten. "We
look forward to working with him to ensure the program is implemented and Rhode
Islanders begin to see the benefits as soon as possible."
"The automobile
industry, specifically the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, have been fighting
the adoption of this standard in Rhode Island and throughout the country,"
stated Auten. "We hope they will not slow down the regulatory process in
Rhode Island at the expense of more asthma attacks and elevated cancer risks."
In addition
to the air quality benefits of the clean cars standard, the program also lays
important groundwork for Rhode Island's regional commitment to reducing climate
change emissions. The program is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,
a leading greenhouse gas, by 32 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE) by 2020.
"Adoption
of the clean cars standard will bring us closer to meeting the New England Governors
and Eastern Canadian Premiers goal of reducing climate change emissions to 1990
levels by 2010 and 10% below 1990 levels by 2020," stated Emily Rochon,
Climate Campaign Organizer for Clean Water Action. "Cleaner cars are an
important step towards reducing our climate change emissions in Rhode Island."
RIPIRG has
worked with a number of different organizations in advocating for this proposal.
Many public health groups including the American Lung Association of Rhode Island,
American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Medical
Society have supported this proposal, as well as many environmental groups such
as Save the Bay, Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club
and the Environment Council of Rhode Island. A complete list of coalition partners
can be found on RIPIRG's web site: www.ripirg.org
"Governor
Carcieri has scored a victory for clean air," concluded Auten. "We
applaud the Governor and urge him to move forward quickly and have the Department
of Environmental Management fully adopt the standards by the end of this year."
RIPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization
with members throughout the state. RIPIRG's Clean Cars, Cleaner Air Campaign
has been a top priority for the past two years.
