EDITORIAL: Keeping Our Cars & Trucks Cleaner

By Philadelphia Daily News

Mar. 23–LAST MONTH, the state Senate passed the anti-clean car bill (Senate Bill 1025).

It blocked the implementation of stronger emissions standards for cars and trucks in the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program. Cars and trucks are responsible for much of the pollutants that cause respiratory problems, affect the acidity of our lakes and streams and contribute to greenhouse gases.

Aside from the detrimental effects of emissions pollution such as acid rain and global warming, smog poses serious health threats. It is one of the worst pollutants plaguing Pennsylvania, triggering 370,000 asthma attacks each year in the state. It also can cause breathing difficulties, increased congestion, pulmonary inflammation not only in children and senior citizens, but in healthy adults.

The state Clean Vehicles Program would cut smog-forming pollution from cars by 10 percent and global warming pollution by nearly 25 percent by 2025. But the program is threatened by the anti-clean car bill, which has moved on to the House.

Legislators should oppose efforts to push the state into the weaker federal program.

Joanna Karraker, Doylestown

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