http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/politics/26calif.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Obama%20environment&st=cse
President Obama has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider reversing a rule previously made by the Bush Administration to deny California, and 13 other states, the right to set their own emission standards. According to the NY Times article, the application was denied considering the newly passed federal regulations were sufficient and California did not need their own policy. President Obama recently announced his new directive for the EPA to grant California a waiver under the Clean Air Act and allow them to move forward with their new regulations.
There has been great push back from the automotive industry, since this direction would force them to speed up the phasing of more efficient vehicles under the federal regulations. They are upset since this may force them to build 2 different types of vehicles, 1 California compliant and another for use in the rest of the United States.
I applaud President Obama, he is making the right moves towards a cleaner more sustainable earth. I know we can develop the technology, it's just a matter of biting the hand that feeds you. It could not have been better said than what Mr. Daniel J. Weiss, director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress in Washington, said in the article,“with the fuel economy measures and clean energy investments in the recovery package, President Obama has done more in one week to reduce oil dependence and global warming than George Bush did in eight years.”
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This move can have several effects:
ReplyDelete1. It makes the automakers reconsider the gas guzzlers, and have to develop more efficient and cost effective vehicles.
2. Creates a need for individuals like us to reconsider the autos we buy, as well as develop transit oriented behaviors that may force city planners and administrators to develop better plans.
3. Foster research outside of the auto-industry for alternative fuels.
4. Force different states to work together to have a unique standard.
5. New technology can be more expensive (at the beginning), but if the auto-industry is hurting, and want to survive, they will look for creative financial ways to create a market for their innovations.
This decision for California is important for the environment, but also to bring issues of local control to the forefront.
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