The road ahead for Clean Cars

In 2005, the state Legislature passed a Clean Cars measure to reduce tailpipe emissions 30 percent by 2016, starting in 2009. The standard follows a California law passed in 2002, and will cover automobile pollution that causes smog, as well as carbon dioxide (the primary form of global warming pollution).

These tailpipe standards, now law in 12 states, cannot go into effect without permission from the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA is now considering California’s request.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the EPA must regulate global warming pollution from automobiles. However, the Bush Administration has indicated that it wants to hold off until the end of 2008, when Bush will be on his way out of office. If the EPA does not grant the state’s application by October,

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to sue the federal government. Many of the other Clean Car states are likely to join the suit.

Hybrid cars address the problem of high gas prices and global warming.

Partnership formed to protect Puget Sound

On May 7, Gov. Gregoire signed into law, Senate Bill 5372, creating the Puget Sound Partnership. The Partnership is a new state agency tasked with leading and coordinating the effort to restore Puget Sound by 2020.

Puget Sound is plagued by run-off pollution and rising temperatures and sea levels caused by global warming. The wildlife that inhabit the Sound, including orcas, salmons and sea birds, have seen declining populations. The Puget Sound Partnership officially launched on July 1. The Partnership’s leadership council is chaired by Bill Ruckelshaus, who has twice directed U.S. EPA. With the help of leading experts, the leadership council will create a 2020 Action Agenda, which will identify and prioritize actions. The Action Agenda will be submitted to the governor and public in September 2008.