http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15626/story.htm Planet Ark : Business groups lobby to save SUVs in California
USA: April 24, 2002 LOS ANGELES - A coalition of business groups unveiled yesterday an ad campaign aimed at stopping a proposed California law they say would drive popular sport utility vehicles off the road by limiting emissions of greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. Because autos account for the bulk of California's man-made emissions of carbon dioxide - thought by many to be the cause of a global warming trend - carmakers say the legislation would have to tighten fuel economy standards by making big cars too expensive for the ordinary consumer through taxes and fees. "As we all know, there is a great car culture in California and we don't want to limit that future," said Peter Welch, director of government and legal affairs at the California Motor Car Dealers Association. The proposed law would require the state's Air Resources Board to adopt, by 2005, regulations that would achieve "the maximum feasible reduction" in emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, emitted by cars and light-duty trucks, the category that includes sport utility vehicles. The bill has been passed by California's Assembly and will be heard next by the state Senate's appropriations committee. If the bill were to become law, the regulations would not take effect until at least Jan. 1, 2006. The coalition opposing the measure has launched a series of radio commercials and newspaper ads, featuring consumers mulling the bill's implications and deciding, "I'll never be able to afford an SUV or a minivan." PERFORMANCE OVER ECONOMY The coalition contends that California would have to impose new vehicle fees, driving taxes or higher gasoline taxes in order encourage people to drive smaller cars. "A tax increase would hurt the economic recovery that is so vital to California," said a spokesman for the California Chamber of Commerce. "This would create a probably unprecedented delegation of authority from the legislature to a bureaucracy," said Larry McCarthy, president of the California Taxpayers' Association. Last year, nearly half, or 47 percent, of passenger vehicles sold in California were SUVs, minivans or light trucks - a percentage that has tripled over the last 30 years. Less than 13 percent of last year's sales were cars that get more than 30 miles from a gallon of gasoline, Welch said. "That means 87 percent of California car buyers chose to buy vehicles with capacity, utility, performance and other attributes ahead of fuel economy." The bill's sponsors say global warming presents unique risks for California, the nation's most populous state, including potential reductions in water supplies and a projected doubling of catastrophic wildfires. Because California's Air Resources Board was established before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was formed in 1970, the state is unique in its ability to impose air quality standards independent of federal regulation. The state air board already sets strict standards for tailpipe emissions of smog-causing pollutants like nitrogen oxides. REUTERS NEWS SERVICE ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/9bTolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuels at Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel at WebConX http://www.webconx.com/2000/biofuel/biofuel.htm To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
