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PennFuture Praises Environmental Quality Board on Clean Vehicles Rule Adoption; New Law Will Give Pennsylvanians What They Want - Cleaner Cars, Lower Fuel Costs, Cleaner Air and Economic Development

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 September 2006, 12:00 CDT

Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) today praised the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) for approving the final regulations requiring cars sold in the Commonwealth to meet more protective pollution standards beginning with the 2008 model year. The regulations were first proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Governor Tom Ridge, but were delayed. The EQB action, the penultimate before the law takes effect, comes after nearly 5,000 citizens filed public comments about the proposal, with the vast majority in favor.

"We are pleased that the EQB voted by an overwhelming 16 - 2 to support the will of the citizens. This is a wonderful victory for consumers, the environment and the economy," said John Hanger, President and CEO of PennFuture. "By joining New York, New Jersey and other states in providing our state's car buyers with access to the cleanest, most efficient and most technologically advanced vehicles, Pennsylvania will be a better place to live, work and play.

"This rule is absolutely essential for Pennsylvania to meet the new stricter federal air pollution requirements," continued Hanger. "If we don't move to cleaner cars, we'll be forced to cut our industrial and manufacturing companies, further harming our economy. Once the cleaner vehicles are fully in use, we will reduce our state's contribution to global warming by a whopping 25 percent, and we will be able to recruit new industries, bringing with them jobs, investment and an enhanced economy.

"Putting cleaner cars on the road also means reducing our demand for gasoline, which will lead to price cuts. And with the memory of three dollar a gallon fill-ups still fresh, that means Pennsylvania families will be able to avoid being held hostage at the pump," stated Hanger.

"Adopting the cleaner car standard also means cleaner air, which means the world for Pennsylvania's children and seniors," continued Hanger. "With less pollution being released, we should see fewer asthma attacks, other breathing problems and cardiac problems, all of which are exacerbated by pollution from cars and trucks. That is not only great news for the health of one million Pennsylvanians who have respiratory problems, but it is also good for the bottom line, since we'll have lower health care bills.

"We urge the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) to join the thousands of Pennsylvanians who spoke out in favor of this rule," continued Hanger. "When the Commissioners vote yes at their next meeting, we can all breathe easier."

Once the rule is fully implemented, Pennsylvania will join Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington and California in opting for the clean car program.

The clean cars program requires automakers to reach an average pollution standard for vehicles offered for sale in Pennsylvania. In other words, automakers must ensure that sales of vehicles that emit more pollution are balanced out by sales of those that emit much less pollution. For new car sales beginning with the 2008 model year, only those vehicles certified by the California Air Resources Board could be sold and registered in Pennsylvania. The list of cars certified by the California Air Resources Board and available for sale this year makes a list 14-1/2 feet long in a tiny 7.5 font. It includes American-made and foreign SUVs, luxury sedans and compacts.

In 1998 during the Ridge Administration, Pennsylvania adopted the California car program in order to be able to participate in the National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program. Under the terms of the NLEV program, which expires in 2006, the state was supposed to fully implement the program starting with model year 2006 - this year. However, changes to the clean car program and other considerations made it necessary for Pennsylvania to move implementation back to the 2008 model year.

PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state's environment and economy. With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and West Chester, PennFuture's activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education and assisting citizens in public advocacy.

Source: Business Wire

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