The Environmental Protection Agency denied California the right to regulate greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs in favor of national limits. California maintains that it faces unique threats from climate change and global warming. The federal law puts a 35 mile per gallon standard by 2020 vs. the California goal of 36.8 mpg by 2016.
California, with backing from a number of environmental groups, is taking the matter to the courts and perhaps ultimately the Supreme Court. It may come down to State’s rights in the end, because California also has backing from 12 other states who have adopted its emissions standards — Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
The latest ruling flies in the face of past waivers for California. The state has set stricter standards since the passing of the federal Clean Air Act in 1967.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, representing General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC, Toyota Motor Corp., favors the federal plan.
