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California's carbon-reduction plans survive carmakers' attacks

California's carbon-reduction plans survive carmakers' attacks

Nelson Ireson June 27th, 2008 Nelson Ireson By Nelson Ireson Author June 27th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 If the EPA approves new greenhouse-gas emissions caps, the car industry will be powerless to stop California from swiftly enacting even tighter carbon emissions rules, according to the latest ruling handed down by a U.S. District Court judge in Fresno, California. The decision finds the 45-day window given by the state for compliance with the stricter emissions rules is adequate, and not a reason to delay the law's enactment. The charge against the short grace period was led by General Motors and two industry advocacy groups. They argued such a short time frame would result in an unfair burden of billions of dollars in costs. Alternatively, if they fail to comply in time, the carmakers could be banned from selling products in the state until they do conform to the emissions requirements, reports The Detroit News. Either way, the industry finds the new law too harsh with its short time frame. Judge Anthony Ishii, who issued the ruling, said the choice faced by the car industry is not fundamentally different from those faced in other industries every day. "It is not up to the courts to deflect the burden of such business decisions," he said.
California's carbon-reduction plans survive carmakers' attacks

California's carbon-reduction plans survive carmakers' attacks

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If the EPA approves new greenhouse-gas emissions caps, the car industry will be powerless to stop California from swiftly enacting even tighter carbon emissions rules, according to the latest ruling handed down by a U.S. District Court judge in Fresno, California.

The decision finds the 45-day window given by the state for compliance with the stricter emissions rules is adequate, and not a reason to delay the law's enactment.

The charge against the short grace period was led by General Motors and two industry advocacy groups. They argued such a short time frame would result in an unfair burden of billions of dollars in costs.

Alternatively, if they fail to comply in time, the carmakers could be banned from selling products in the state until they do conform to the emissions requirements, reports The Detroit News. Either way, the industry finds the new law too harsh with its short time frame.

Judge Anthony Ishii, who issued the ruling, said the choice faced by the car industry is not fundamentally different from those faced in other industries every day. "It is not up to the courts to deflect the burden of such business decisions," he said.

Tags: Industry, General Motors

Posted in: News


Comments (3 total)

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  1. By Gus #1, Posted: 6/27/2008

    I like progress, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I think California just wants the reputation of being the first, the best the harshest on the polluters, at the expense of the people sometimes...
    I live here, I love it here, but the smog over Los Angeles is every bit as bad as you hear. Something certainly needs to be done there. But is it the cars? Or is it the trucks and trains moving containers from the ports? Or is it the refineries?

  2. By bambam #2, Posted: 6/28/2008

    Thats true too, I hate CO2 laws, I prefer too push new technology standards or laws.
    that is if everyone agrees with the technology direction. Which way you look at it, there is too continent with different standards in different technology.
    EU only have to care about the Co2 emission and not really the side effect.
    I like the long term goal or push but sometimes you just need to have a look at the progress and change the target date to it. You never know, the target could actually be achieve in less then 10 years and not the 20 or so required.

  3. By chris #3, Posted: 6/30/2008

    well guys... remember the cafe restrictions that are in place now have been the same for the last 30 years. and in that time we've gone from small crappy cars with no power (after an age of muscle) to a time of large bloated cars with much more power than we ever had back in the muscle days (when you consider the size of the engines anyways).

    if the CAFE restrictions had continually gotten more stringent, we wouldn't be in this mess of playing catch-up. and the cost of the penalties would have been incentive for the industry to develop more efficient vehicles.

    but then again, the prius came out 10 years ago and hardly anyone realizes that cause no one gave a flying crap about efficiency even 5 years ago.

    restrictions and laws are the way you get to where we are today. That being said, yes, california is a little ridiculous... and I get the impression that they really want to be their own nation, with their own laws, and their own culture.

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