As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.
PROVIDENCE—The Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) released regulations on December 21, 2004
to strengthen standards for new cars sold in Rhode Island beginning in model
year 2008. Adoption of the California "Clean Cars Standard" will bring
cleaner cars and cleaner air to the Ocean State.
"Adopting the Clean
Cars Standard is a huge victory for the public health, the environment and consumers,"
said Matt Auten, an Advocate with the Rhode Island Public Interest Research
Group (RIPIRG). "The Clean Cars Standard means less of the air pollution
that contributes to summer smog, cancer and global warming. It also means that
consumers in Rhode Island will get better access to the cleanest cars on the
market for many years to come. Less pollution and more options for consumers
is a win for all Rhode Islanders," Auten concluded.
Since 2000 Rhode Islanders
have experienced over 50 air quality alert days when pollution levels in the
air have been unhealthy to breathe. Children, the elderly, and people with respiratory
problems are particularly vulnerable to negative health consequences on these
days.
DEM expects the new car
standards to reduce emissions of smog forming Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)
by 16 percent and cancer causing VOC's by 25 percent by 2020. The reductions
come from stricter emission standards for new cars and by setting a mandate
for the sale of advanced technology vehicles like hybrids.
Over 100,000 Rhode Islanders
currently suffer from asthma, including 19,000 children. Ozone is a key component
of summer smog. Science has shown that ozone can trigger asthma attacks and
can cause new cases of asthma to develop.
The move to adopt tougher
emissions standards for new cars was pioneered by California, which has the
authority under the Clean Air Act to set air pollution standards that are tougher
than those set by the federal government. Once California adopts a set of standards,
individual states can choose to follow California's standards instead of the
federal standards.
Many states in the Northeast
with severe air pollution problems have elected to follow California's lead
in reducing air pollution including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and
Vermont. Rhode Island is the fifth Northeast state to join the fight to reduce
pollution statewide. New Jersey and Maine are currently in the process of adopting
the standards.
