White House expands national auto emission standards

Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) Policy Director Nidia Bautista watched from her seat in the White House Rose Garden today as President Obama announced the next round of federal auto emission standards. CCA was one of the few environmental organizations invited to this important event, where plans were unveiled to increase fuel economy and curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards nationwide.

The administration just last month finalized the initial round of plans, which will raise the fuel economy of cars and trucks and cut GHG emissions for 2012-16. Modeled after California’s Clean Cars Law, which CCA originally co-sponsored, those measures set the bar for the nation. The next round will raise that even further, setting standards for cars and light trucks starting in 2017, as well as for medium- and heavy-duty trucks from 2014-18. These measures have the potential to drastically reduce oil use and CO₂ emissions, while saving Americans billions of dollars at the pump.

"CCA is greatly encouraged by this progress, and we are honored to be recognized by the Obama administration for our historical role and continued efforts in advancing cleaner transportation. Today’s action serves as further testament to the far-reaching effects of our work," said Bautista. "We are committed to moving forward in California with advanced clean cars standards for 2017-25, as well as to working with federal agencies to ensure the strongest possible standards nationwide."

View the memo signed today by President Obama.

With the Gulf disaster a daily reminder of our overdependence on oil, consumers in California and across the nation are demanding cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. So the timing couldn't be more fitting for this year's California Air Quality Awards, where CCA will salute innovations in clean transportation. In fact, the author of California's Clean Cars bill—Senator Fran Pavley—will be in attendance, along with honorees T. Boone Pickens and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr., and others! Visit our event page to find out more about attending or sponsoring this exciting event.