As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release.
SEATTLE—In a report
released today, entitled "Ready
to Roll," the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG)
found that technology that reduces air pollution and lowers fuel consumption
is readily available to automakers, but remains out of reach for Washington
consumers because the state doesn't have clean car auto emission standards.
The standards have been shown to reduce cancer causing air pollution by 25 percent
in other states.
From BMW's to Buicks, automakers
make clean cars, but at least thirteen automakers offer these models only to
states that have adopted the Clean Cars standards. California consumers can
buy a Chevy Suburban with lower emissions, or a super low emission model not
available to Washington customers. And none of Ford's clean cars are available
at Washington dealerships, though other states choose from more than 20 models
of the F-350 trucks alone. According to the California Air Resources Board,
consumers will actually save money over the lifetime of the vehicle because
of saved costs on fuel.
The Washington State Legislature
is currently considering companion bills in the House and Senate (HB1397 and
SB 5397, respectively) to adopt Clean Car standards.
"I'm sponsoring this bill because it's unacceptable that consumers can't
buy a car in Washington that meets the higher emission standards," said
State Senator Phil Rockefeller. "Cars and light trucks are the largest
source of air pollution in our state, and these emissions contribute to cancer,
asthma and other respiratory diseases."
These standards for auto
emission will require that all new cars sold in Washington emit less pollution.
They give new car buyers more choices, including advanced, super-low-emission
vehicles that are only available to states with these standards. If adopted
in 2005, the clean car standard would go into effect for new 2009 model cars.
Eight states, including California and New York, have adopted the Clean Cars
program
"Most of the cleanest and most efficient cars and trucks go to states that
have adopted California's emission standards," said WashPIRG Transportation
Advocate Jessyn Schor. "Washington consumers won't have the full range
of choices for clean cars without clean car legislation."
The report lists technologies
that are being offered to clean car states, including:
- Exhaust gas recirculation
to reduce emissions of asthma-inducing nitrogen oxides.
- Oxygen sensors that maximize the efficiency of combustion and the catalytic
converter
- Faster-heating catalytic converters to avoid emissions that take place while
a car is heating up.
- Improved computerized control of the engine start-up sequence to reduce "cold
start" emissions (current emission-control systems are far less effective
when cold).
- Smog-eating" coatings on radiators that convert ground-level ozone (which
exacerbates asthma) in ambient air into oxygen.
- Modified fuel tanks and lines to control evaporative emissions.
"The auto industry
is infamous for stating the "impossibility" of meeting consumer safety
standards for years - from seatbelts to airbags to improved emissions standards,"
said Schor. "Clean car technology is "ready to roll" and this
legislation will reduce our fuel bills, reduce respiratory illness and cancer,
and make sure Washington businesses will not bear all the responsibility for
protecting our air quality."
Chris Marr, of the Foothills
Auto Group, a Spokane dealership that sells Lincolns, Mazdas, Mercurys and Hondas,
agrees. "This report shows what I've known for years: automakers stand
in the way when it comes to getting the best technology to the showroom floor.
It's time for the next generation of cars to be available to auto dealers and
their customers. Clean car legislation will make sure we get the best cars on
the road."
