Tighter vehicle emission standards proposed for state

By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The bill, being drafted by Rep. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who chairs the House Transportation Committee, would thrust Washington into the forefront of efforts by states to combat global warming. It would also put Washington in the thick of a battle with automotive companies over the legality of such actions.

"I think this is legal and doable, and intend to introduce it early in the [next legislative] session," Murray said.

The idea of imposing the tougher standards here was endorsed recently by most members of a task force that included government officials, environmentalists and representatives of some of the state's largest businesses.

The bill will likely face a vigorous fight from the auto industry, which claims the California rules are really an illegal, if indirect, attempt to impose tougher fuel-mileage standards.

"If you wait for the process to play out in California, it will be clear that no state has the authority to impose these kind of standards," said John Cabaniss of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, which plans a court challenge in that state.

In California, the standards would be phased in over more than a decade, eventually requiring by 2016 an average 30 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by new cars.

The standards would eventually boost the price of all new cars registered in the state by roughly $1,016, according to California state projections.

Highlights of the California plan Reduction of greenhouse gases is scheduled to start with 2009-model-year automobiles. According to California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff, the average reduction of greenhouse gases from new California cars and light trucks will be about 22 percent in 2012 and about 30 percent in 2016, compared with today's vehicles. Costs for the added technology needed to meet the rule are expected to average about $325 per vehicle in 2012 and about $1,050 per vehicle to comply in 2016, costs the ARB claims would be offset by savings on fuel. At least seven other states — New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine — as well as Canada, are expected to consider adopting the regulation for their use. If all of those states and Canada adopt the rule, the number of cars required to meet the rule will triple. The regulation is also expected to cut ozone-forming pollution by about five tons per day by 2020. Source: www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr092404.htm; Sacramento Bee, 9/25/04

Auto-industry officials argue that the cost would be much higher, meeting the standards would pose technical challenges, and that the final price tag could hurt new-car sales.

California state analysts say all the technology needed to meet the standards is now available. And they say consumers could expect to recoup the added vehicle costs through lower fuel and other operating costs over the life of the vehicle.

The Washington standards would match those of California and follow a similar timeline.

In recent years, many scientists have concluded that global warming — resulting from human activities that release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases — is under way.

These gases retain solar heat, and radiate back down to Earth, pushing up temperatures as their concentrations increase.

Scientists point to shrinking expanses of polar ice, and a half-century trend of dwindling western snow packs, as evidence of the warming. And many climatologists predict much more wide-ranging climate changes within the next century as the gas buildup raises average world temperatures.

So far, the Bush administration has shied away from imposing new regulatory standards to limit greenhouse gases.

The lack of federal action has helped give momentum to regional efforts to regulate the gases. The California Air Resources Board approved its plan earlier this year, with at least seven Northeast states considering the new standards. The California rules were developed at the request of the state's Legislature, but must still gain a federal waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency.

In Washington, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency in January convened an advisory committee that includes government, environmental and business leaders from Boeing, BP, Microsoft and other major companies. In a series of meetings, the committee worked to come up with a plan to reduce the region's greenhouse-gas emissions.

The draft document — expected to be finalized later this month — endorses the California standards for Washington.

"If you look at climate change, states are recognizing that something needs to be done," said Dennis McLerran, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. "Transportation [emissions] are the biggest driver of global warming, and states are in a position to do something about this."

In the Puget Sound region, more than half the greenhouse gases result from transportation, and the emissions are now projected to increase by 24 percent by 2020 if no action is taken. The biggest component of greenhouse emissions is carbon dioxide.

In the draft report, most corporate representatives supported the California standards, including BP, which operates a Cherry Point refinery that produces gasoline.

Bill Kidd, a BP representative, said his company believes global warming is a significant issue that merits a precautionary approach. While his company may not lobby actively on behalf of the California standard, he said it would not oppose a Washington bill.

But representatives of Washington State Automotive Dealers Association and the auto manufacturers association were strongly opposed to the California standards.

Cabaniss, of the manufacturers association, said he hopes the Washington state Legislature will reject the California standards. Representatives of the state dealers association could not be reached for comment.

California has a special clause written into the federal Clean Air Act that gives it the power to set pollution standards for cars sold in its state. And under the federal act, states can choose to follow the federal standards or the California standards.

Cabaniss says the only way to reach the greenhouse standards is by improving fuel efficiency. The less fuel consumed, the lower the greenhouse-gas emissions.

Thus, he says the greenhouse standard is really an attempt to boost mileage standards, something only the federal government has the power to impose.

The California standards were launched under former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. But they have since been embraced by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Here in Washington, outgoing Gov. Gary Locke has endorsed the new standards. A spokeswoman for Gov.-elect Dino Rossi declined to comment pending further research. Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Rossi's Democratic challenger who is seeking a recount in the governor's race, could not be reached for comment.

If Washington followed the California lead, the new cars eventually sold in the state would have all pollution-control equipment included on California cars, including technology designed to lower toxic emissions such as benzene.

California officials say the standards were the result of extensive research and public hearings. They include improvements such as adding turbo-chargers to all engines, and changes to air-conditioning units, as well as improving fuel efficiency.

Hal Bernton: 206-464-2581 or hbernton@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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