California to EPA: Give States Green Light to Achieve Large Cuts in Global Warming Pollution from Cars and SUVs

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• California Secretary for Environmental Protection Adams, Attorney General Brown, and former Assemblymember and Clean Cars Legislation Author Pavley to Testify Today in Washington, D.C.

• New Report Issued by Environment California Documents What States Can Achieve

By Frank D. Russo

Tailpipe standards already in place in California and 11 other states would reduce global warming emissions by nearly 400 million metric tons by 2020 – a reduction level equivalent to taking 74 million of today’s cars off the road for an entire year, according to a new report, "The Clean Cars Program: How States are Driving Cuts in Global Warming Pollution". The report was released yesterday by Environment California, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. . It comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public hearing today on whether to give states the green light to reduce global warming pollution from cars and SUVs.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown will urge the EPA to allow vehicle regulations passed by California and 11 states to be used. This would be, according to Brown, the most comprehensive effort to combat global warming in United States history. Also testifying at the hearing will be Governor Schwarzenegger's Secretary for Environmental Protection, Linda Adams, and Fran Pavley, the former Assemblymember and author California's clean cars legislation as well as a coauthor of the landmark AB 32 on global warming.

Brown will also brief the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works following his EPA testimony. As California’s top law enforcement official, he is supported by Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, all of which have adopted the regulations and are ready to quit stalling on global warming.